London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1907

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]

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52
and the Committee shall have authority to enter into agreements or
arrangements with sanitary authorities respecting the cleansing of
verminous persons: provided that all regulations under the said part
of the Act with regard to verminous inmates of common lodginghouses
shall be made by the Council on the recommendation of the
Committee.
(b) That an addition as follows be made to the order of reference to the
Education Committee—
Subject to the provisions of the order of reference to the Public
Health Committee, the Education Committee shall exercise the powers
of the Council under Part V. of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1907, with respect to verminous children attending school:
provided that members of the Committee who are not for the time being
members of the Council shall not act or vote in respect of any question
arising under the said part of the Act, and that regulations under the
said part of the Act and exclusively affecting such children shall be made
by the Council on the recommendation of the Committee.
Subsequently the following letter was received:—
County Hall,
Spring Gardens,
12th February, 1908.
Sir,
Cleansing of verminous Persons.
Cleansing of Children.
I am directed to call attention to sections 36 and 37 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, with reference to the cleansing of
verminous persons. It will be observed that section 36 gives statutory power
to the County Medical Officer or any other person authorised by him (a) to
examine the person and clothing of any child attending any school provided
or maintained by the Council to ascertain whether the person or clothing of
such child is infested with vermin or is in a foul or filthy condition: (b) to
require the parent or other person responsible for such child to effect the
cleansing of the person and clothing of the child within 24 hours of the notice
to that effect, and (c) on default of such parent or other responsible person, to
remove the child from the school and to cause the person and the clothing of
such child to be properly cleansed in suitable premises and with suitable
appliances and to detain there such child until such cleansing has been effected:
and that section 37 enables the Medical Officer, or any other person authorised
by him, (a) to enter any lodging house and examine the person and clothing
of any person whom he has reason to suspect of being infested with vermin or
in a foul or dirty condition, (b) to require such person to submit his person and
clothing to be cleansed at specific suitable premises within 24 hours of notice
of such requirement, and (c) on default of such person, to remove him to
suitable premises for the purpose of effecting the cleansing, and to detain him
there until it has been effected.
The Council believes that the St. Pancras Metropolitan Borough Council will
agree that it is absolutely necessary that any arrangements made for carrying
the Act into effect shall provide for dealing separately not only with men and
women but also with boys and girls. The Council recognises that children in