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30
Diseases of Animals Act, 1950 and Other Acts Relating to Animals
By arrangement with the City Council the Corporation of the City of London acts for them on an
agency basis in connection with duties under the Diseases of Animals, Riding Establishments,
Performing Animals, Pet Animals and Animal Boarding Establishments Acts where veterinary
services are involved. Officers of the Corporation undertake routine inspection of animals in
transit and inspections for licensing purposes under the Riding Establishments Act, together with
inspections specifically requested by the Medical Officer of Health of Westminster. All other
necessary inspections are made by the public health inspectors. The Corporation issues any
notices and advertisements which may be required under those Acts but licensing and registration
of residents or premises in Westminster is undertaken by the City Council.
Rag Flock and Other Filling Materials Act, 1951
Under the provisions of this Act, various types of premises concerned with the upholstery trade
or with the provision of materials for that trade must be registered or licensed with the local authority.
At the end of the year, 24 premises were on the register and one was licensed for storage purposes.
During the year, three samples were taken under the Act, and these satisfied the prescribed tests.
Verminous Persons
The cleansing of persons baths at Lissonia and Wedlake Street dealt with 861 verminous persons:
adults 631 (men 520, women 111); children 230 (boys 45, girls 185).
Scabies
The two establishments mentioned in the foregoing paragraph treated 295 scabies patients:
adults 208 (men 115, women 93); children 87 (boys 25, girls 62).
Impetigo
No cases of impetigo were referred to the Department during the year for treatment.
Special Laundry Service
The Department continues to operate a service for laundering bed linen and clothing of the acutely
ill, incontinent, or very dirty and verminous old people. In each case a certificate is given by the
Medical Officer of Health under the provisions of Section 84 of the Public Health Act, 1936. The
work is carried out by the staff of the Department's Laundries at 217, Lisson Grove and at Wedlake
Street Baths. During 1966, 6,270 bags each containing about 10 lbs. of soiled linen were collected,
laundered, and returned to the owners.
CORONER'S COURT AND MORTUARY
The Coroner's Court and Mortuary is situated in Horseferry Road, S.W.1.
The arrangements made by H.M. Coroner (Western District) for the reception at the Mortuary
of bodies under his jurisdiction in the City of Westminster and from the Royal Borough of Kensington
and Chelsea continue to operate satisfactorily.
The Greater London Council (which is responsible for the provision of Coroner's Courts) contributes
to the City Council's costs in regard to the Coroner's accommodation and the City Council
has a financial arrangement with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in respect of
bodies from that Borough accommodated in the Mortuary.
The staff comprises the Superintendent, a First Assistant, Four Mortuary Assistants and a Cleaner.
Details of the work of the Mortuary during the year are set out in Table 30, page 76. It will be
noted that included in the table are four cases awaiting proceedings at the Central Criminal Court,
and in consequence no cause of death can be shown in respect of these.
BURIALS AND CREMATIONS ARRANGED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
Under the provisions of Section 50 of the National Assistance Act 1948, it is the duty of the City
Council to cause to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has died or is found dead in
the area if no other arrangements have been made for the disposal of the body.
The Council is empowered to recover the cost of burial from the estate of the deceased, and is
eligible to receive payments in respect of the cost of such burial from death grants payable under the
provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1946.
Where persons without known relatives die in the City, it is frequently necessary not only to
arrange for their burial, but to dispose of the contents of their homes. This is done in consultation
with the Treasury Solicitor. Such action is necessary to enable the proceeds to be applied towards