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55
Disinfection of Library Books.
In view of the difficulty of securing efficient disinfection of books, the libraries committee
authorise the medical officer of health to destroy all public library volumes removed from
infected houses; this gives Kensington borrowers protection from infection from the council's
books.
The number of books from the Kensington public libraries destroyed during the year by the
officers of the public health department was 72. The number of private subscribing library books
destroyed was 21, and the number disinfected by formalin and returned to the householders was 16.
Bacteriological Work.
The work performed by the bacteriologist for the council during the year 1931 was as follows :—
Disease suspected. Examinations. Positive.
Diphtheria 1,583 101
„ (virulence test) 5 3
Tuberculosis (sputum) 321 38
„(faeces) 1 -
„ (animal inoculations) 20 -
„(fluid) 1 -
Typhoid fever (blood) 25 -
„ (faece) 14 -
„ (urine) 10 -
Dysentery (faeces) 26 8
Gonorrhoea 4 3
Ringworm 13 1
Cerebro-spinal meningitis 1 -
The following examinations were also carried out :—
Milk (bacterial count) 36
„ (tubercle bacilli) 20
In addition to these examinations at the Kensington laboratory, 500 specimens of sputum
were examined at the tuberculosis dispensary.
Cleansing of Verminous Persons.
The cleansing of verminous persons is carried out at the medicinal baths, Blechynden Mews.
The record of work done at the medicinal baths during the year 1931 is as follows :—
Total
Scabies— cleansings.
Adults 273
School-children 551
Children under five years 87
Verminous conditions—
Adults 26
School-children ... ... 3,117
Children under five years ... 6
Common lodging house cases 28
Other conditions—
Adults 14
School-children 175
Children under five years 7
Total 4,284
The clothing worn by persons on their visit to the medicinal baths is disinfected, together
with such other articles of clothing as the patients may bring. Altogether 9,046 articles were so
dealt with and, in addition, 557 blankets and sheets, and 387 articles of night clothing.
Of the 3,117 school children cleansed at the medicinal baths in 1931, 211 only were compulsory
cases ; the remainder attended voluntarily.
Verminous Premises Cleansed.
Three hundred and sixty-seven verminous houses were cleansed during the year by landlords in
response to notices served under the powers conferred by the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1922. The council's rat officer, in addition to his duties under the Rats and Mice
(Destruction) Act, carries out disinfection of verminous premises in certain cases. The following
is a summary of his activities in this direction :—
Number of premises visited 30
Number of rooms sprayed 52