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and lodging-house cases) of those Boroughs at the Medicinal Baths, on the recommendation and
under the responsibility of the Medical Officer of Health of the Boroughs in which the persons
reside.
The Councils of these three Boroughs have agreed to pay Is. per bath and to indemnify the
Council of the Royal Borough against any claim which a Hammersmith, Paddington or Fulham
person may bring, in respect of any treatment given at the Medicinal Baths.

The high pressure steam disinfector at the Medicinal Baths is proving of great value, and an
attempt is being made to disinfect as much clothing and bed linen as possible during the personal
cleansings, in order to obviate, as far as possible, re-infection of persons cleansed on return
to their homes.
In addition to the disinfection of the clothing worn by persons or. their visit to the Medicinal
Baths, 305 blankets and sheets, 196 articles of night clothing, and 134 other articles have been
dealt with.
Of the 4,214 school children dealt with at the Medicinal Baths in 1924 only 203 were compulsory
cases, the remainder attending voluntarily.
The steady improvement in the general cleanliness of schoolchildren is most encouraging. At
the 3,981 cleansings in 1924, only 69 children were found to be infested with lice, the remainder
showing only eggs of lice on their heads or clothing.
FOULING OF FOOTPATHS BY DOGS.
The Council's by-law dealing with the fouling of pavements by dogs continues to be useful and
the condition of footpaths has improved considerably since this measure came into operation in 1921.
Two officers of the Council's Public Health Department make observations and during 1924
they reported five breaches of the by-law to the Public Health Committee. Summonses were
taken out in each case. In three cases a fine of 10s. was imposed ; in the fourth the fine was 5s. ;
but the summons could not be served in the remaining case owing to the fact that the offender had
given a false name and address to the Council's officer.
THE RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
In the Borough, the Borough Council are the authority required to execute and enforce this
Act ; but the London County Council are responsible for rat repression in sewers vested in the
County Council. The Borough Council are also required to observe the requirements of the Act
in respect of any land of which they are the occupiers.
The Borough Council may, within their own area, give instructions by public notice as to the
most efficient methods that can be adopted both individually and collectively with a view to the
destruction of rats and mice. Also, in the event of the occupier failing to take necessary action,
the Council may serve notice requiring him to take steps for the purpose of destroying rats and
mice and of preventing his land or premises becoming infested, or, after 24 hours' notice, they may
enter the premises, carry out the work and recover any reasonable expenses from him.
The Council have delegated their powers under the Act to the Public Health Committee, and
each Sanitary Inspector makes inspections in his district for the purpose of detecting rat-infested
premises and reports to the Medical Officer of Health cases in which the occupiers are not taking
all practical steps to destroy the rats or to prevent their premises becoming infested.
A Rat Officer is employed at a wage of £4 per week to assist in the work of rat destruction
under the supervision of the Sanitary Inspectors. He has carried out good work during the year
as is evidenced by the following table :—