View report page

41
Shelter House.—The Shelter House was occupied by 10 persons during the disinfection
of their homes after infectious diseases. Baths were given to 17 verminous
persons ; and to 2 persons suffering from Scabies whilst their clothing was disinfected.
One midwife also attended for the purpose of disinfection after attendance on a case of
Puerperal Fever.
Verminous School Children.—During the year 4,243 baths were given to
children from the London County Council Schools, who attended the Disinfecting Station,
and were cleansed by the nurse whom the Borough Council appointed for the work,
while their clothing was undergoing disinfection. The daily attendance ranged from
7 to 32.
The agreement entered into between the London County Council and the Borough
Council from the 1st January, 1921, for the cleansing of verminous children, is a payment
at the rate of 2s. for each attendance of each child at Cleansing Station, except when such
child is, or is suspected to be, suffering from Scabies, in which case payment by the
London County Council will be at the rate of 1s. for each bath given. The minimum
payment to be paid to the Borough Council in respect of such cleansing shall be not less
than £100 per annum.
The amount paid during the year by the London County Council for the baths given
to the children was £390 3s.
Proceedings were instituted by the London County Council under Section 122 of
the Children Act, 1908, in 76 instances during the year, when fines ranging from 2s. 6d. to
10s. were inflicted.
EMPLOYED POPULATION.
From the Census of 1921, interesting figures reveal the change in character in recent
years of the population of Islington. The Borough is becoming more and more a factory and
workshop area. This is brought to our notice also by the number of complaints received
where some subtle change has taken place in the character of the business carried on,
for instance, in a quite secluded place at the back of dwelling houses, there may have
existed, say, a large stable with out.houses. During the war, a business has been started
for the making of small castings. This building is in time sold, and the next occupant
carries on a more extensive business; then complaints come of smoke or fumes, but the
business has been insidiously established, and the change in the character of the business
has been so gradual that the neighbouring tenants of houses in the past made no complaint,
and it is only after the population round the factory has changed, and the final stage of the
business indicated is reached, that complaints become general. There is apparently no
legislation to effectively prevent the establishment of a factory in this manner in previous
residential districts. The ground landlord, if there is one, may be an interested party, and
very frequently if very persistent complaint only comes from one or two tenants near the
outlet of a smoke or vapour vent, the proprietor settles that matter by securing the leases
of these houses.
One of the most curious requests received by the Workshop Inspector was a letter
asking for action to be taken under the Steam Whistle Act of 1872 (35 and 36 Vic, C. 61).
As the request had been made after legal advice, the matter was looked into, and it was
found that the applicant was apparently relying on Clause 2 of the Act which states that
" no person shall use or employ in any manufactory or any other place any steam whistle
or steam trumpet for the purpose of summoning or dismissing workmen or persons employed
without the sanction of the sanitary authority," etc. The Act is apparently still in force,
but it is difficult to say why the duties under it should come to a health department, as