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vermin. The use of such apparatus shall not be considered to
be parochial relief or charitable alowance to the person using the
same, or to the parent of such person, and no such person or
parent shall by reason thereof be deprived of any right or privilege
or be subject to any disqualification or disability.
Local authorities may expend any reasonable sum on buildings,
appliances, and attendants that may be required for the carrying
out of this Act, and any expenses for these purposes may be
defrayed out of any rate or fund applicable by the authority for
general sanitary purposes, or for the relief of the poor.
2. In this Act "local authority" means in England the council
of any county borough, the district council of any district, any
board of guardians, and in the county of London any sanitary
authority as defined in the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
It will be noted that the Act is a permissive Act. There is no
obligation on the local authority to make any provision for the
cleansing and disinfection of verminous persons.
The Committee considered a circular from the London County
Council on the administration of the Cleansing of Persons Act,
and recommended the Council—
"That public novices be issued directing attention to the
facilities provided at the Disinfecting Station and Shelters for
cleansing persons and their clothing from vermin, under the
Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897."
Small bills were posted about the district informing verminous
persons where they could be bathed and have their clothes disinfected.
The small bills were also left at the common lodginghouses
and the seamen's lodging-houses in the Borough. Since
the posting of the bills 427 persons applied for baths and for their
clothes to be disinfected.