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1935]
62
INFIRM PERSONS. LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL
POWERS) ACT, 1928.
During the year, 11 cases, 10 females and 1 male, came under the notice of the
Medical Officer of Health. In 5 cases (all females) the circumstances were reported
to the Public Health Committee, and authority given for action to be taken under
the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1928, should the circumstances warrant such
procedure. This course, however, was not necessary, as two of the women died,
one voluntarily entered the Islington Institution, one removed to her daughter's
residence, and the remaining one is still at home, but being cared for by visiting
nurses.
Of the remaining 6 cases investigated, but not reported to the Public Health
Committee, 4 were admitted to hospital, where one died, and in 2 cases no action
by the Department was necessary.
SEWER EMANATIONS.
During the year complaints were received regarding sewer effluvium emanating
from a ventilating shaft of the Middle Level Sewer No. 2 in the neighbourhood
of Caledonian Road, this being particularly noticeable when a south-easterly wind
prevailed. The London County Council were approached on the subject, and
strong representations made for the matter to be investigated, which was done. It
transpired that the ventilating shaft is fitted with an electrically driven fan, which
has been in operation since the 3rd October, 1934, but owing to the high operating
costs involved in running the fan continuously, experiments were carried out
between the 1st and 16th July, 1935, inclusive, in running the fan intermittently.
On the 15th July, the day on which the emanations were particularly complained of,
atmospheric conditions seem to have caused the extracted air to descend. This is
a rare occurrence, but the resumption of the continuous running of the fan and
other steps taken by the London County Council resulted in the cessation of
complaints.
SCHOOLS.
As stated in the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for 1934, the
inspection of school children in the Metropolitan Borough of Islington comes under
the administration of the London County Council, but the general sanitary inspection
is within the purview of the Borough Council's Public Health Department,
The number of private schools remains as in 1934, namely, 15.
RATS AND MICE (DESTRUCTION) ACT, 1919.
(9 and 10 Geo. 5, Ch. 72.)
In reporting on activities during National Rat Week, 4-9th November, 1935,
it is difficult to say that these have differed much from those of the previous year,
1934. Approximately the same total number of handbills were distributed from the
enquiry office of the Public Health Department at the Town Hall, and through the
medium of the Sanitary Inspectors in the course of their district visitation, also by
the Health Visitors. Posters were exhibited, and also our rat transparencies.
It was noticed that Rat Week preceded the Parliamentary Elections, and the
interest of the public was largely taken by the propaganda for this event, consequently
one could not say that the interest was the same as during the year before;
in fact, the callers were less.