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4
Bathing of School Children.
The personnel of the first aid posts, under the
supervision of the health visitors, continued to give free
baths to school children in the gas cleansing stations attached
to the posts.
The number of baths given was 10,273. Nine
children found to be suffering from scabies, five suffering
from impetigo and three children with verminous heads were
referred to the Council's cleansing station for treatment.
Destruction of Rats and Mice.
Under the Infestation Order, 1943, directions were
served on the Council by the Minister of Pood requiring (a)
a report on the extent of infestation by rats and mice within
the borough and (b) a special report in regard to major
infestations.
In order to ascertain the necessary information the
staff of the Public Health department was augmented by men of
the Light Rescue Farties who were given rapid training to
enable them to assist in the necessary survey. The investigation
revealed 2,221 infestations of rats and mice and
further directions under the Infestation Order were served
on the Council by the Minister of Pood to take the necessary
steps to remedy these. In addition to this work, which is
now in progress, an experimental scheme for exterminating
rats in sewers was carried out early in the year and as a result
it was calculated that as many as 6,000 rats were killed.
This experiment was approved by the Ministry of Pood who reimbursed
the Council seventy per cent, of the cost. This
baiting of sewers in Kensington gave experience to enable the
Ministry of Pood to servo formal notices on other local authorities
to carry out similar work. Subsequently, a second
baiting of sewers was carried out -in Kensington, and it was
estimated that in this second treatment about 3,000 rats
were destroyed.
Public Mortuary.
The number of bodies taken to the mortuary during
the year was 424. Inquests were held in 97 cases.
Professional Nursing in the Home.
On behalf of the borough council, the Kensington
District Nursing Association visited 819 cases, paying 8,480
visits. The number of cases nursed during the year was
1,620, and the number of visits paid was 33,898.
Vaccination.
There were 1,484 births reported in 1942 to the
vaccination officer by the Kensington registrars. By the
31st December, 1943, 62.06 per cent. of these had been vaccinated
or were found to be insusceptible to vaccination.
The other 37.94 per cent. were accounted for as follows:-
Statutory declarations of objection 11.12%
Died before vaccination 5.39%
Referred to other districts 13.21%
Removed, leaving no trace 7.62%
Postponed, or unaccounted for 0.60%
(In addition, 259 certificates of successful
Vaccination were received in respect of children living in
Kensington who were born outside the borough during 1942.)