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85
cannot wash their heads so readily as the boys. It is an acknowledged
fact that water in a swimming bath is always dirtier after use by girls
than after being used by boys. And so on may be depicted the horrors of
bathing in contaminated swimming-bath water, to say nothing of the livestock
from the heads and bodies of dirty bathers.*
It is satisfactory to know that the Baths Superintendents are fully
alive to the horrors and dangers of the swimming baths, and they do all
in their power to safeguard the public health, as from time to time they
skim (by means of a scum cloth) the water, overflow it, and as far as possible
remove sputum, other objectionable matter floating on the surface, and
clear by means of a net on a long pole any substances seen at the bottom
of the bath.
A bacteriological examination of the water of a swimming bath which
had been in use for three days showed that it was polluted with practically
dilute sewage. Of the bacteria the bacillus Coli Communis was present in
the greatest proportion. This bacillus is the chief organism present in the
small intestine in normal conditions, and with many other bacteria it
also inhabits the large intestine. No comment is necessary to account for
the presence of this bacillus in the water—the reason must be only too
obvious, †
Habitual frequenters of swimming baths, in their enthusiasm, should
not close their eyes and hoodwink themselves to these existing dangers,
but should endeavour to assist to keep the water of swimming baths as
sweet and wholesome as possible. "The nation's health is the nation's
wealth."
Some habitues of swimming baths clamour for the baths to be
supplied daily with fresh water instead of adding Electrolytic Fluid, but
do these captious persons realise the financial aspect of the case?
Thousands of gallons of water at 6d. per 1,000 gallons, and about three
tons of fuel for each of the four large baths to raise the temperature of the
water. Emptying and filling a swimming bath every day means a large
amount of labour, consequently extra hands would have to be employed
at night when the bath is emptied, washed and refilled, and then there
must not be lost sight of the time taken up in cleaning the dressing boxes.
Without doubt the daily emptying and purifying of the swimming baths
and refilling them with fresh water is an ideal state of affairs, but this
* See Addendum at end of Report.
† It is indeed strange that in these days of sanitation, thousands of school children
—during a week—should bathe in slimy water containing Bacilli Coli Communis and
sputum; wipe themselves with a towel and return to school. The Poplar Borough
Council's action to prevent bathing in such polluted water should be upheld by the
public, more especially as school-masters have stated that the boys smell fresher now
than in previous years after coming from the baths.