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9
minous conditions. Most of the civil work arose from the same
cause.
Dressings (211 tins) from hospitals and medical inspection rooms were
collected and destroyed.
At the Cleansing Station, 442 Westminster children (213 for lice,
and 199 for scabies), and 31 adults were bathed and treated. In addition,
33 adults and 82 children were dealt with at home on account of scabics.
The Disinfecting Superintendent paid 517 visits in connection with
verminous cases. By arrangement with the County Council, 80 school
children from Chelsea, Battersea, Lambeth and Holborn were sent to
the Westminster Cleansing Station for attention.
Sanitary Inspection—Plans received numbered 233, one-third of
the number submitted in pre-war years; these chiefly dealt with reconstruction
of premises, re-drainage, provision of new w.c.'s, lavatories, kc.
Two buildings were erected or converted for use as hospitals, 10 as hostels
for soldiers, and a number of premises were altered for use as offices.
Difficulty was experienced in obtaining the prompt abatement of
insanitary conditions through shortage of labour, but it was noticeable
that while painters, &c., could not be obtained for tenement dwellings,
brewery and-licensed premises throughout London were being lavishly
re-painted and decorated inside and out. 1,112 intimations of nuisances
and 37 statutory notices were served, both of these being below the
average. Police Court proceedings had to be taken in 12 cases.
Overcrowding (13 cases) was less in 1917 than in the preceding year,
when there were 47 cases, and only three underground rooms were
reported to be illegally used. Tenement houses have been regularly
inspected, 3,640 visits having been paid.
The difficulty experienced in previous years to prevent emission of
black smoke continued, but, on the whole, owners have exercised care,
and only 66 complaints were made. In one case, a summons had to be
issued.

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