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In 1930, the council authorised the medical officer of health to open special whooping cough
clinics in the event of the disease appearing in epidemic form in the borough, and for this purpose
a sum of £100 has been provided in the council's estimates. The arrangements provide for the
clinics to be opened at the Baby Clinic at No. 92, Tavistock Road, and at the Kenley Street minor
ailment centre. There was no occasion to open a clinic in 1934.
Cleansing of Verminous Persons.
The cleansing of verminous persons is carried out at the medicinal baths, Blechvnden Mews.

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 10,549 articles were so
dealt with and, in addition, 599 blankets and sheets, and 347 articles of night clothing.
Of the 4,227 school children cleansed at the medicinal baths in 1934, 277 only were compulsory
cases ; the remainder attended voluntarily.
Verminous Premises Cleansed.
Six hundred and sixty-two 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 120
Number of rooms sprayed 136
Disinfestation.
During the course of inspection of houses which have been represented as unhealthy in various
parts of the country, it was found that the number infested with bugs was very large. Indeed, it
has been estimated that over 75 per cent. of the old working-class dwellings in London are infested,
and in some areas the percentage is higher than this.
Once bugs are established it is an extremely difficult task to dislodge them, for they often lay
their eggs in the most inaccessible places. Consequently, none of the fumigants usually employed
for disinfection is of much use in exterminating bugs. In view of the intensive action contemplated
in clearance and improvement area procedure, it became a matter of urgency to discover a method
of disinfestation which would give satisfactory results.
The Prevention of Transference of Vermin from Old Bug-Infested Houses to New Housing Estates.
Reports of experiments with hydrocyanic acid gas which had been carried out in various parts
of the country led the council to approach the Imperial Chemical Industries for expert advice on
the use of this gas. Hydrocyanic acid is a colourless liquid which is a compound of carbon, hydrogen
and nitrogen. It evaporates at 26° C. (78'8° F.) and gives off a light, penetrative gas. This gas,
in a concentration of from two to three per cent. by volume, will kill bugs and their eggs in a very
short time. Unfortunately, it is extremely dangerous to human life, for only a few breaths are
required to cause death. Because of its high toxicity, it was necessary to adopt a scheme for its use
which would be safe. Such a scheme was formulated by Imperial Chemical Industries, and it
involved the provision of vans in which the furniture of families could be fumigated en route from