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preceding- year, owing- to the smaller population, the death rate
increased by approximately 5 per cent. In the case of NonPulmonary
Tuberculosis, the number of cases was higher and the
death rate was more than doubled.
Extra nourishment was provided during the financial year
ended 31st March, 1942, for 36 necessitous dispensary patients at
a cost of approximately £100.
The number of new patients attending- at the Dispensary was
409. Of these 263 were discharged as "non-tubereulosis,'' 126
were found to be suffering from the disease and 20 were still under
observation. The total number of attendances during- the yearwas
3,715. Home visits, to the number of 4,029 were paid (272
by Tuberculosis Officer and 3,757 by the nursing staff). Seventyeight
patients received institutional treatment, the average length
of stay being 100 days.
The Handicraft Class was held on 50 occasions during theyear
with an average attendance of 7.
Typhus-.—Although no case of typhus has been notified in
Battersea for over 50 years, in view of the prevalence of this disease
upon the continent, the Ministry of Health advised the taking of
precautionary measures and the setting up of an organisationcapable
of dealing with a potential epidemic. Preliminary steps
were taken in this direction, the neighbouring boroughs of Wandsworth,
Lambeth, Camberwell and Southwark being linked with
Battersea with a view to formulating a joint scheme.
Cancer.—200 deaths of Battersea residents were recorded.
Sanitary Circumstances.
The Inspectorial staff were to a large extent engaged on
special duties in relation to bombed dwellings, displaced tenants,
air-raid shelters, etc. The number of dwelling houses inspected1
therefore shows an increase on previous years, but in general the
usual work of the department in relation to sanitation shows a
marked decrease,, as evidenced by the following table.
Complaints received 2,587
House inspections 49,803
Shop Act inspections 109
Factory, etc., inspections 1,105
Gipsy van inspections 38
Drains—
Smoke tests 107
Water tests 461
Relaid 21
Repaired 158
Plans received 36
Persons cleansed (including
5,456 children) 8,014
Premises disinfected 2,029
Articles disinfected 32,009
Water supply—
New houses certified 91
Additional to tenement
houses
Water closets provided, etc.
Smoke observations
Notices served—
Intimation 1,039
Statutory—
Sections 197 and 220 1,228
Fifth schedule, etc. 403
Mortuary—
Bodies received 372
P.M. examinations 372
Inquests 71