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55 1938
The infestation of houses has also received increased attention, as a result of
which 236 intimation notices and 97 statutory notices were served on owners (and
on occupiers when the conditions appeared to be due to their neglect) to rid the stated
portions of the premises of vermin. Where it is found to be necessary, the Council
insists on the walls being stripped of paper, the removal of architrave mouldings,
picture rails and skirtings, and the surface treated with a blow-lamp, or the fumigation
of the rooms with sulphur and spraying of the walls with an insecticide ; the fumigation
and spraying is repeated if required after fourteen days ; the furniture is sprayed
with an insecticide.
During the year 24 Council houses and 153 other houses, comprising 46 and 535
rooms respectively, were found to be bug infested, and were disinfested by the Public
Health Department. 33 of the Council rooms, and 46 of the privately owned rooms
were treated a second time.
The arrangement made by the Council for the issue of an insecticide was continued,
76 (16-oz.) tins being supplied. Disinfestation of rooms on payment of the
sum of five shillings per room in some cases is also undertaken by the Council, which
during the year numbered 74. (This number is included in the 153 houses abovementioned).
Disinfestation of School Children (Cleansing from Lice and other
Vermin).—During the year 6,769 baths (including 1,894 for Scabies) were given
to children from the London County Council Schools, who attended the Disinfecting
Station and were cleansed while their clothing was undergoing disinfestation.
The amount paid during the year by the London County Council for the baths
given to the children was £582 4s. Od.
There was an increase in the number of children treated for head lice, and in
the number of scabies cases treated. The rate paid by the London County Council is
two shillings for head cases and one shilling for scabies.
SCHOOLS.
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. In the public and private schools no sanitary defects were found,
and no criticism of water supply was called for during the year. The number of
private schools in the Borough is now 10.
FACTORIES ADMINISTRATION.
The Medical Officer of Health is required to submit a report on the manner in
which the provisions of the Factories Ac£, 1937 (which came into operation on the
1st July, 1938) were administered during the year.
The new Factories Act of 1937 is a consolidating Act superseding the Factory
and Workshop Act, 1901, and other enactments including some provisions of the
Public Health Acts. The old distinction between a factory and a workshop is
abolished, only one term—" factory "—being employed.