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Section 50. Burial or Cremation of the Dead.
Arrangements were made during the year for the burial of 40
cases, of whom 16 were males, 24 were females.
All were Lambeth cases. The net cost to the Council was £244. 11.0.
THE PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS
During the year 1953, 747 complaints have been investigated.
Of these, 553 were found to be brown (common) rats, 2 black (ship)
rats, 134 mice, and 58 were found to be not justified; 934 baitings
were carried out, and in 79 cases defective or disused drains were
found to be the cause of infestations and were dealt with by the
Borough Engineer and the Sanitary Inspectors. No major infestations
have come to light during the year. There has been a further
reduction in the number of black rat infestations, and in no case
has the infestation been of a serious character.
Inspections 941
Revisits 1,005
Notices served 16
Once again, two separate sewer treatments with poison have been
carried out by the Borough Engineer's department during the year
in conjunction with the rodent officer and his staff.
There were many complaints during the year of insect infestations
which with much help from Mr. A. McKenny Hughes, British Museum
(Natural History), were effectively combatted. The usual offenders,
wood boring beetles, psocids, ants, cockroaches, drug store beetles,
carpet beetles, clothes moths, weevils and the like were joined
in the autumn by kelp flies. These presumably were blown by autumn
gales from the rotting seaweed which storms had cast up in great
quantity on the south coast beaches. There were two infestations
one in the degreasing section of an engineering works and the other
in an establishment where the only attraction was the scent of the
liquid soap in the lavatories.
REHOUSING AND OVERCROWDING
2,386 cases were examined and reports sent to the County Council
with copies to the Borough Council's rehousing department. Of this
number 29 Orange forms (overcrowding) were forwarded to the County
Council and 124 preferential forms on medical grounds. For the
Council's housing department priority recommendations numbered 41,
and no preference 95. Information upon 45 cases was forwarded to
other districts. Cases not overcrowded and without need for
preference numbered 333, deferred cases for which no immediate
grounds for giving preference was possible were 137. Points on the
Council's scheme were recommended in 1,035 cases where the
application was reinforced with a medical certificate. Consultation
with the family doctor is often required in order to elucidate the
exact need. The 117 remaining cases were those in which no change
in circumstances was discovered on revisiting.
As a result of these activities the County Council rehoused
during the year 84 Orange form and 346 preferential cases.