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106
Inquiry held at the Guildhall. They had also taken into consideration
the proceedings in Parliament during the past session with
reference to the proposals in the Port of London Bill; and they
had decided, having regard to all the circumstances, not to accede
to the request of the Company at the present time.
The Local Government Board further considered it desirable that
increased attention should he paid to the examination of food stuffs
in the Borough, and a statement of the number of samples of food
stuffs taken at wharves and landing places on the Thames should
be included in the Annual Report.
See Sanitary Inspectors' reports, pages 137, 145, 155, 161, 167,
168. 180, 186. and 187.
INFECTED ARMY BLANKETS.
About Christmas, 1902, a firm of drapers in the Bow Road bought
twelve blankets from a business house in Aldermanbury, four of
them had been sold, and about the middle of the year 1903, whea
the draper was informed the blankets were possibly infected, the
remaining eight were disinfected at the Council's Depot by steam
under pressure for half an hour, and by dry heat for an hour.
These eight blankets appeared to be stained with blood and excrement.
Other blankets which had been in contact with the soiled
ones were also disinfected in a like manner. The drapers stated
they would return the blankets to the people they bought them
from.
A pawnbroker in Chrisp Street, Poplar, on 23rd March, bought
twelve blankets from a firm in Aldersgate Street. One had been sold
about the middle of the year 1903, the remaining eleven, with
other blankets with which they had been in contact, were disinfected
by steam under pressure for half an hour, and by dry heat for one
hour. With the exception of one (which had eyelets in it and had
possibly been used as a sort of awning) the blankets appeared to
be stained with excrement and blood. The pawnbroker said when