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59
Forty-seven rooms and 434 articles of bedding, clothing, etc., were disinfected
on account of tuberculosis.
Special attention is devoted to toys and more particularly to any toy put in
the mouth. One hundred and forty-eight books and 65 toys were disinfected.
The disinfections also included ten lockers, and three hospital wards.
Cleansing of Persons Act.
During the year 131 persons (128 men and 3 women) infested with vermin
had their bodies and 1,443 articles of clothing disinfected, free of charge, at our
cleansing station (Goldsmith Street).
Shelter during Disinfection.
For some years past an arrangement has been in operation with the Council
of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury for accommodation to be provided at
their Reception House, Northampton Road, for residents of this Borough during
the disinfection of their homes after infectious disease. In the year 1935 the
accommodation was used by eight Holborn families comprising 41 persons (12
adults and 29 children).
Extermination of Vermin.
One hundred and seventy-three verminous rooms were disinfested by the
Council's staff.
In dealing with verminous rooms, the fumigation is repeated, whenever
practicable, at the end of twelve to sixteen days, by which time it is expected that
any eggs of bugs will have hatched out; a single fumigation of any severely
infested room cannot be regarded as satisfactory. In 130 cases last year this
second fumigation was carried out. When this course was for any reason
impracticable, the occupiers of the rooms were advised to use a disinfecting spray,
and to take such other measures as appeared likely to prevent recurrence of the
infestation.
Cancer.
During the year 1935, 58 deaths were recorded as due to Cancer in comparison
with 52 in the previous year. The deaths in 1935 were equal to a rate of 1.64 per
thousand, the corresponding rate in 1934 being 1.44 per thousand.
It will be seen that the death rate from Cancer in the Borough in 1935 was
0'20 per thousand higher than in the previous year. The rate, however, for one year
in districts of comparatively small populations does not furnish a reliable indication
of the prevalence of a particular disease. The decennial rates, which afford much
more reliable indication of the seriousness of Cancer, show that in the past 20 years
there has apparently been a marked increase in the death rate from this disease,
tor while the decennial average for the ten years, 1916-1925 was 1.37 the corresponding rate
for the ten years, 1926-1935 was 1.67. Some part of this increase may reasonably be attributed
to improved facilities for diagnosis, and can also be correlated with the age-distribution
of the population.