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SANITARY INSPECTION OF THE BOROUGH 27
During the year 75 houses were found to be infested with bed
bugs and disinfestation was carried out in all cases.
Special steps are taken to ensure that the furniture and clothing
of families about to be accommodated in the Council's houses or
flats are freed from vermin. Hydrogen cyanide gas is used for the
disinfestation of the furniture, which is placed in special vans constructed
for the purpose, the process being carried out by a contractor.
The furniture of one family was dealt with during the year.
Bedding is not subjected to hydrogen cyanide but is disinfested by
steam at the Council's Disinfecting Station.
Mortuary
Reference was made in last year's Report to the Council's
decision to close and demolish its mortuary in York Road, it
having been, for some years, retained solely as a reserve mortuary
in case of emergency.
In conformity, therefore, with the Council's decision, the mortuary,
which was built in 1920, was duly demolished during the
year under review and the site is now being developed for housing
purposes.
The existing arrangements with Battersea Borough Council for
the use of their mortuary for the reception of bodies of Wandsworth
residents continued to work most satisfactorily and in 1963, 846
bodies of persons who died in Wandsworth were received in the
Battersea mortuary.
Crematorium
Under the Crematorium Regulations, 1930, 1,672 cremations were
authorized during 1963, compared with 1,490 in 1962.
Burial of the Dead
Under Section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, it is the
responsibility of the Council to arrange for the burial of persons
who die or are found dead in the Borough, and for whom no
suitable burial arrangements are made or are being made.
The number of persons buried under the provisions of the Act
during 1963 was 36.
Sewerage
The arrangements for sewerage and sewage disposal in the district
are reasonably adequate although occasional flooding has occurred
in the Borough due to surcharging of sewers following periods of
heavy rain.