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79
The Cleansing of Persons.
In very few instances is reference made in the annual reports of medical officers of health
to the arrangements made, under The Cleansing of Persons Act, 1897, for enabling dirty and
verminous persons to be cleansed free of charge. In St. Marylebone special provision has been
made by the sanitary authority not far from the Salvation Army shelter in Burne-street, and
3,967 males and 135 females were cleansed in the year, their clothes being disinfected at the
same time. This number includes persons who had been in contact with cases of infectious
disease and who desired to be cleansed, a use of the baths which has been encouraged. In
Westminster, since the passing of the Act, free accommodation has been provided by the Strand
Board of Guardians, but during three months in 1901 the borough council paid 2s. 6d. for
each person cleansed, the number of persons cleansed in this period being 473. The
guardians having declined to reduce their charge the arrangement came to an end. Dr.
Allan writes: "It appears that during the 12 months about 1,700 persons availed themselves
of the guardians' offer, about half of them giving addresses in the city, generally
common lodging-houses. It is, therefore, a boon which is largely appreciated, and it is
suggested that at the new central disinfecting station proper accommodation be provided
for this purpose; meanwhile, instructions have been given to utilise the bath and disinfecting
apparatus at Denzell-street, and 60 sets of verminous clothing and bedding have been treated,
in addition to which 10 rooms have been fumigated." Dr. T. Orme Dudfield states that
in Kensington "nominal effect was given to the Act soon after it passed by an arrangement
whereby cleansing and disinfecting apparatus at the able-bodied workhouse, Maryplace,
in the Potteries, was made available on payment of a small fee by the late vestry—
an arrangement still in force. But little use has been made of the apparatus owing possibly to
ignorance of the arrangement on the part of the poor intended to be benefitted and probably,
to some extent, owing to the locality and ownership of the apparatus. . . . The question
of providing a place for the purposes of the Act is engaging the attention of the Public Health
Committee.
Information which has recently been supplied by medical officers of health shows that
no provision has been made in Paddington, Hampstead, Stepney, Bermondsey, Lambeth,
Battersea, Wandsworth, Camberwell, Lewisham and Woolwich. The position of St. Marylebone,
Westminster and Kensington in respect of this subject has already been mentioned.
In Fulham the work could be done at the disinfecting station. In Chelsea there is a bath-room
for casuals and tramps at the disinfecting station, and it is proposed to take some action in the
matter. In St. Pancras an arrangement has been made, but re-arrangement is under consideration.
In Islington arrangements have been made by the sanitary authority. Iu Stoke Newington
bedding and clothing with vermin are disinfected, but there are no baths. In Hackney two baths
have been provided at the disinfecting station. In Holborn the baths at the casual wards are available,
the clothes are taken to the disinfecting station, the guardians supplying the clothes to be
worn in the meantime. In Finsbury arrangements have been made with the Board of Guardians.
In Shoreditch clothes are disinfected at the disinfecting station. In Bethnal-green arrangements
have been made. In Poplar there are baths in connection with the disinfecting station.
In Southwark arrangements have been made by the sanitary authority. In Greenwich cleansing
is done at the shelter. In Deptford the Borough Council disinfects and the Board of Guardians
provides opportunity for bathing.
It is obvious that in many districts of London no provision has been made for this
purpose. The subject is, however, one that well deserves the attention of sanitary authorities
for it is of the greatest importance that persons in the condition for which the Act
proposes a remedy should be encouraged in every way to avail themselves of the opportunity of
cleansing themselves. The improved condition of common lodging-houses has already been
referred to, but the maintenance of personal cleanliness must depend upon the desire of the
individual and the opportunity which is afforded him for this purpose. The experience already
gained in St. Marylebone and Westminster shows that where this opportunity exists and is
known, it is well appreciated. It must obviously be suitable in character and in a position where
it is readily accessible and known to those for whom it is intended.
In connection with the subject of personal cleanliness may be mentioned the efforts which
are being made in some countries to inculcate in the young the habit of bathing. As stated in
the annual report for the year 1897, a visit to Norway, Denmark and Germany showed that
spray baths had been provided in connection with certain schools in which practically all the
children were bathed once a week. No compulsion whatever was exercised, but the children and
parents readily acquiesced in the proposals of the teachers and excellent results attended the
practice.
Mortuaries.
In a few districts additional mortuary accommodation was being provided or alterations
made in view of the rearrangement of the former sanitary areas under the London Government
Act. The following information is supplied by the annual reports of medical officers of health—
In Paddington the mortuary in Paddington-green was being enlarged and reconstructed, and
when complete there will be a coroners' mortuary (view room, post-mortem room, microscope
room, lavatories and exhibition case), a mortuary for infectious cases and a mortuary chapel, each
being a separate building; the medical officer of health suggests that the mortuary in Kensalroad
should be used also for North Kensington. In Westminster there were seven mortuaries;
it was resolved to close those at Dean-street, Ebury-bridge and St. Martin's Church; the remaining
mortuaries are situated in Denzell-street, Dufours-place, Mount-street and Horseferry-road;