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72
in houses is usually regarded as prima facie evidence of drain
defects, the work of the Rat Officer therefore is carried on in close
co-operation with that of the district Sanitary Inspectors.
The methods employed under the Rat Repression Scheme have
been described in previous Annual Reports. It is only necessary,
therefore, to state that as an inspection of the summarised figures
shows, the work done during the year under this head has been as
satisfactory as in previous years.
Fouling of Footways by Dogs.
The Council, on the recommendation of the Health Committee,
decided to make the following By-law with regard to the fouling
of public footways by dogs:—
"No person being in charge of a dog in any street or
public place and having the dog on a lead shall allow or permit
such dog to deposit its excrement upon the public footway.
Any person offending against this By-law shall be liable to
a penalty not exceeding 40s.
This By-law shall cease to be in force after the 30th June,
1929, unless a By-law confirming and continuing its provisions
has been duly made and come into force before that date."
The By-law came into force in June, 1927.
No proceedings were taken under this By-law during the year.
Personal Cleansing Station.
During the year 1927, there were 4,360 children and 256 adults
cleansed and treated at the station. Of the 4,360 children attending,
321 were suffering from scabies or itch, a contagious parasitic
skin affection. The remainder were verminous. Of these children
4,323 attended from the Public Elementary Schools in the Borough
by arrangement with the London County Council, who have entered
into a contract with the Borough Council for the use of their
Personal Cleansing Station. The cleansing and treatment of the
school children is carried out under the supervision of Officers of
the London County Council while the disinfestation of the clothing
and of the homes is carried out concurrently by the Borough
Council's Sanitary staff.
There has been a slight increase in the number of infested
persons treated at the station as compared with the previous year.
The following table shows the numbers of persons cleansed
and treated at the Personal Cleansing Station and the expenditure
incurred since 1906, the year in which the cleansing of verminous
persons was begun.