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58
Vermin and the Cleansing of Persons.
The Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897 (60 & 61 Vict., Ch. 31), is headed "An
Act to permit Local Autherities to provide Cleansing and Disinfection for Persons
infested with Vermin." It is to be regretted that the word" disinfection "should
be misused in an Act of Parliament in conjunction with the word "infested."
Disinfection means the destruction of infection and not of vermin, the proper term
for which would be infestation, and by analogy its destruction would be disinfestation.
This explanation by the way, in order to avoid any misunderstanding and
to make it quite clear that true infection and disease are not dealt with under this
Act.
The Act provides, in the two first and principal sections, as follows:—
"1.—On and after the passing of this Act, any Local Autherity shall have
the power, when in their discretion they shall see fit, to permit any person who
shall apply to the said Autherity on the ground that he is infested with vermin,
to have the use, free of charge, of the apparatus (if any) which the Autherity
possess for cleansing the person and his clothing from vermin. The use of such
apparatus shall not be considered to be parochial relief or charitable allowance to
the person using the same, or to the parent of such person, and no such person or
parent shall by reason thereof be deprived of any right or privilege, or be subject
to any disqualification or disability.
" Local Autherities may expend any reasonable sum on buildings, appliances,
and attendants that may be required for the carrying out of this Act, and any
expenses for these purposes may be defrayed out of any rate or fund applicable by
the Autherity for general sanitary purposes or for the relief of the poor.
"2.—In this Act, 'Local Autherity' means, in England, the Council of any
county borough, the district council of any district, any board of guardians, and,
in the County of London, any sanitary autherity as defined in the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891."
Vermin is a term applicable to all sorts of small noxious animals and iusects,
but the vermin in the Act is intended to refer to the little animal forms that may
frequent the human body and clothing, and live there more or less parasitically,
and include, bugs, fleas, various kinds of lice, and the itch mite and pimple mite,
which for clearness and brevity's sake may be called human parasitic vermin.
The Board of Guardians provide that every inmate upon admission shall have
the body and clothing cleansed, cloth and woollen clothing, etc., being steamed or
baked, linen or cotton clothing, etc., either steamed or boiled and washed,
and the person bathed, hair cut and shaved if necessary, also that every casual
shall be treated in a similar manner, excepting hair cut and shaving.
It must be quite clear that the only proper, therough, and satisfactory manner
of dealing with verminous persons is that adopted by the Board of Guardians for
their inmates, and any provisions made by a Sanitary Autherity must be equally
therough to be of any permanent value.