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London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953
Section 43 of the above Act states that, on receipt of a report from
the medical officer of health or a health inspector that any aged person
within their district is verminous or is for any other reason in need of
cleansing in order to prevent injury or the danger of injury and is so
enfeebled that he is unable to avail himself of any facilities for cleansing
himself provided by the authority or to cleanse himself properly, the
sanitary authority may on application or with the consent of that
person (but not otherwise) cause him to be cleansed free of charge at
the place where he resides or at any other suitable place. The authority
is enabled to make such arrangements and provide any apparatus
required to exercise these powers.
8 such cases arose during the year.
Anti-fly and anti-mosquito campaign
During the period of this campaign, May to the end of September,
310 sites, grass verges and rear entrances were visited and treatment by
spraying or the use of powder applied as necessary. Material collected
or destroyed on the sites consisted of 50 mattresses, 27 chairs, items
of bedding and a large quantity of miscellaneous articles such as carpets,
lino, straw, paper and rags. Most of this rubbish was taken to the depot
for removal with the household refuse. In a few instances, when the
material was dry, it was destroyed by burning on the site.
Mr. Craven, the deputy senior inspector, who is in charge of this
anti-pest work reports that stables, piggeries and certain plots of land
known to be particularly bad as rubbish dumps were treated as special
sites and these were visited regularly, particular attention being paid
to the manure receptacles at the stables and piggeries. Throughout
the campaign frequent visits were made to Lewisham Hospital to spray
the refuse containers and sites of the kitchen waste bins. Some attention
was also given to the dustchutes and openings at both the Council's
and the L.C.C.'s blocks of flats. The caretakers of the Council's flats
were supplied with both liquid and powder insecticide for use in connection
with the containers at the base of the chutes, particularly following
emptying, and for the sites of any waste bins.
The cooperation of the Borough Engineer's Department was again
available for the treatment of dustbins with powder supplied by the
Health Department.
In addition treatment by spraying of houses was carried out by
the staff of the disinfecting station following complaint by the householder
concerned. In a number of cases a supply of insecticide was also
left with the householders for use in their own sprayers.