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1938 52
reducing the quantity, so that no nuisance would be produced. The worst nuisance
was from the domestic fire, and the proportion of domestic to industrial smoke in
London was in the order of 2.51 to 1. There was no change for betterment, and it
was stated that at the Finsbury Park Observation Station the pollution remained
constant. For the whole eight metropolitan stations the figures were in 1936-37:
total solids 238, sulphates 34, tar 4, the figures being tons per square mile. It is
not always realised that there is air " sewage " in London which remains constant,
although capable of improvement, and the need for convalescent holidays, etc.,
required by citizens, is perhaps to a considerable extent due to the air they breathe.
A subsequent conference was held at the Ministry of Health in June, when
Councillor Mrs. Thurtle also attended at the request of the Public Health Committee,
As a result of this conference it was hoped that the new Advisory Body would be
formed during the coming year.
SWIMMING BATHS AND POOLS.
There are three establishments, baths and washhouses, in the Borough belonging
to the Council, an open.air swimming pool under the control of the London County
Council, a swimming pool at Highbury County School, and a private open.air pool
at a boarding house in Highbury.
Six samples of water from the Council's swimming baths in the Borough were
bacteriologically examined during the year. With the exception of one, all were
reported to be satisfactory. In the case of the one considered unsatisfactory, the
bacteriologist reported that the absence of coliform bacillus was a satisfactory feature,
but the examination seemed to show that the filters were not removing their quota of
bacteria. Another sample of water was taken from the same bath under similar
conditions as to time, etc., which on examination proved satisfactory.
In addition to the above, a sample of water was taken from the open.air swimming
pool at Highbury Fields and on examination was reported to be satisfactory.
Two samples were taken from the swimming pool at Highbury County School.
The first sample showed that the number of organisms of the coliform contents were
rather high for modern standards of swimming bath water. This matter was taken up
with the Principal of the School and a suggestion for a remedy was made which was
adopted, and a further sample was taken and found to be satisfactory.
DISINFESTATION.
Eradication of Bed Bugs.—The problem of the eradication of bugs has been
receiving the serious attention of the Public Health Committee. Towards the end
of 1937 a proposal for the provision of a " HCN " disinfestation station was submitted
to the Minister of Health, and in January, 1938, the Council received his formal
consent to its establishment. This station, which commenced to function during
the month of August, 1938, is situated in the South.west corner of Ashburton Grove
Depot, and comprises one large and one small chamber, an office, and an iron container
for the storage of hydrogen cyanide, the whole enclosed by iron railings covering
an area of 330 sq. yards. The procedure adopted is as follows : when a family
is being moved, a disinfector attends at the station at 8 a.m. and makes preparations,