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Extra Nourishment.—There has been no improvement to report in the standard of extra nourishment for the tuberculous,
whose rations remain the same as those of the rest of the population, apart from milk granted on a medical certificate.
In 219 cases the Council paid for extra milk where the patients themselves could not afford it.
In-patient accommodation.—The insufficiency of in-patient accommodation for the tuberculous continued to be of
serious concern, and the Council's representatives on the Metropolitan Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee were asked
to raise this matter once again with a view to the Minister of Health being urged to accelerate and intensify the campaign
for recruitment of adequate nursing staff.
DIABETES.—The Council paid for the insulin required by 13 necessitous persons.
SPITTING.—The Bye-laws of the London County Council for the Good Rule and Government of the County make it
an offence to spit "on the floor, side or wall of any public carriage, or of any public hall, public waiting-room, or place
of public entertainment, whether admission thereto be obtained upon payment or not." It would be almost an
impossibility to enforce a Bye-law prohibiting spitting in public thoroughfares, and the only way to approach this
matter is by appealing to the co-operation and goodwill of the public through the medium of posters. The Central
Council for Health Education publish a poster which is calculated to draw attention to the need for refraining from this
reprehensible habit, and a supply of these was obtained and exhibited in the Borough with the kind co-operation of the
Paddington Chamber of Commerce.
BLOOD TRANSFUSION.—In April the Council authorised arrangements being made with the Medical Research Council
for the establishment of a blood transfusion service at the Welfare Centre. Members of the Council, the Staff, and
the public were invited to volunteer, and the response was very gratifying. It was not until early in December,
however, that the Research Council were able to send a unit to Paddington, but at the session then held a good proportion
of the volunteers were called upon.
MORTUARY.—416 bodies were taken to the Mortuary, an increase of 111 over the number for 1946. Inquests were
held in 176 cases, and Coroner's Certificates were issued in 219. The remaining 21 bodies were taken to the Mortuary
to await burial.
The London County Council have decided, after consultation with the Borough Council, not to rebuild the Coroner's
Court attached to the Mortuary, which was destroyed by enemy action in 1941. The western area of London will
continue to be served by the two Courts situated at Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, and Horseferry Road,
Westminster.
FUMIGATION SERVICE AND CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS ROOMS.—The exceptionally hot summer of 1947
accounted for a very big rise in the number of applications received for the use of the Council's Fumigation Service,
645 rooms being fumigated and 725 sprayed, as compared with 615 rooms fumigated and 106 sprayed in 1946.
It was necessary to serve 54 notices under Section 123 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and to take legal
proceedings in 18 cases to secure compliance with the Notices.
DISINFECTING STATION AND MEDICINAL BATHS.—Approximately 14 tons of bedding etc. were dealt with in the
steam disinfector, and 386 rooms were disinfected with formalin after the occurrence of infectious disease. 260 library
books were also disinfected.
There was a further drop in the number of scabies cases requiring treatment at the Medicinal Baths; 500 persons
attended, as against 955 in 1946. A similar improvement was revealed so far as verminous cases were concerned,
only 196 needing treatment, approximately half the number dealt with in the previous year.
It is very disappointing to record that no progress has been made with regard to the establishment of the Disinfecting
Station and Medicinal Baths at 186, Kensal Road. At the time of writing (March, 1948) the Minister of Health had
not indicated his approval of the scheme submitted to him some months previously, and it is probable that prior needs
for housing may render necessary a curtailment of the scheme as originally proposed.
STATIC WATER TANKS.—Many complaints were received during the year about the condition of emergency water
tanks, and a number of them were accompanied by demands for immediate demolition of the tanks. It is difficult
sometimes to convince complainants that the Council have no power in the matter of demolition, and that we can only
ensure the removal of any rubbish which is, or is likely to become, a nuisance. The public, quite understandably,
look upon the tanks as a public nuisance, and their removal a matter of public concern. It is indeed hoped that a
Directive from higher quarters may soon be given in the matter of demolition. Meanwhile, the Department does
whatever it can in the prevention of nuisance. All tanks are sprayed at regular periods during the summer months,
and the Director of Public Cleansing is informed of any accumulations of rubbish requiring removal.