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135
The overcrowding survey carried out under the Housing Act,
1935, was practically completed during this year and it was
estimated that there were approximately 1,000 basement rooms
in the Borough, only a few of which were of the worst type.
In 1936 there was a spate of legislation including a new Public
Health (London) Act and a new Housing Act, both of which became
operative in 1937. Owing to increased demand an extension of the
Foot Clinics became necessary and an additional chiropodist was
appointed, the total treatments given during 1936 numbering 3,557.
It was during this period that ozonisation was introduced in the Cold
Air Stores in the Borough to rid products of smells and tastes of
pungent flavours acquired during transit or storage.
As a result of application and enquiries from parents regarding
diphtheria prophylaxis, the Council resolved in September of 1936 to
inaugurate a scheme for Diphtheria Immunisation for children up
to the age of 14 years, immunisation being carried out mainly at the
Seamen's Hospital Laboratory.
Dr. M. Macdonald relinquished his post in August 1936 upon his
reaching retiring age and Dr. F. R. Waldron, who at that time was
Assistant Medical Officer and Tuberculosis Officer, succeeded him in
this assignment.
At the beginning of 1937 the Public Health staff evacuated its
offices and took up temporary accommodation at Devonport House
in order that the work of the erection of the New Town Hall on the
site of the old Borough Hall could proceed. It was during this year
that the appointment of a full-time clerk to the Tuberculosis Dispensary
became necessary when, in order to obviate duplication of
records, the Notification Register was transferred from the Public
Health Department. The Tuberculosis Handicraft Centre Committee
was formed during this period and immediately effected
affiliation to the National Association for the Prevention of
Tuberculosis.
In the 1937 Annual Report, attention was drawn to the increase
in atmospheric pollution, the Astronomer Royal having indicated
that in Greenwich this pollution was some 25% greater than that of
the previous year.
As a result of the substantiation by a special survey of the
Astronomer Royal's comments for 1937 concerning atmospheric
pollution, the Council had under consideration in 1938 the question
of instituting proceedings against the owners of the Generating
Station at East Greenwich. This action was eventually settled on
the understanding that existing plant would be exchanged for more
efficient apparatus during the next few years.