View report page

55
treatment is carried out. Whenever a visitor is doubtful as to the progress of an
infant the matter is reported with a view to an inspection being made by one of the
Council's medical officers. This practice has worked very satisfactorily and has
been of great assistance to the visitors.
A nurse infant ceases to be under this part of the Act at the age of seven years,
but as the child usually attends school from the age of 5 years it has from that age
the additional advantage of supervision by the School medical service.
The number of deaths of nurse infants during 1923 was 53, the same as last
year, while inquests were held in 11 cases as compared with 9 in 1922. The verdict
in 10 cases was death from natural causes, and in the other accidental death ; the
child being killed by a motor car.
From time to time during the year cases have been brought to notice emphasising
the necessity for dealing with the question of adoption and it is anticipated that
the matter will be again investigated at an early date.
Work of the Chemical Branch.
The work of this branch was carried out at four laboratories, viz., the Central
Laboratory at County Hall, the Greenwich Generating Station, and the Laboratories
at the Northern and Southern Outfalls
During the year about 3,500 samples of various articles were submitted by
departments of the Council, and examined, in most cases, as to their compliance
with specified conditions or general suitability for use. This number includes
173 samples of building materials ; 175 of coals ; 61 of disinfectants ; 175 of foods :
193 of oils ; 78 of paints and colours ; and 115 of petrol (under the Petroleum Acts).
Analyses were made in situ of 61 gases used in connection with dry-cleaning and
degreasing plant in use in London. In connection with the supervision of dietary
of necessitous children in Council Schools, 1,116 samples of milk and 68 complete
meals were examined, as well as a number of samples of dried milk.
672 samples of hard and softened water were examined and advice given, in
connection with the water-softening plant at County Hall, and about 500 samples
of river water were collected at various states of tide and examined in connection
with the general investigation of the condition of the river.
A series of experiments conducted at the request of the Chief Officer of the
London Fire Brigade showed that a mixture of ammonia and air, such as might
occur owing to a defect in a refrigerating plant, is explosive when subjected to a
high-tension spark discharge. Danger of explosion appears to arise with mixtures
not very rich in ammonia when the P.D. across the spark-gap is 20,000 volts or over,
but time did not allow of the conditions being fully studied.
Central
Laboratory.
The work of the laboratory at the Greenwich generating station comprises:—
(i) The daily examination of samples and materials for controlling the operation of
the water-softening plant, the blowing down of boilers, condenser leakage, and the
purity of condensed water supplied to the station batteries ; (ii) the sampling,
preparation and examination of fuel (coal); (iii) the preparation and examination
of fuel ashes, the analysis of flue gases, boiler scales, stores, etc., and investigations
connected with corrosion and other troubles incidental to the operation of the
station plant.
Greenwich
Generating
Station
Laboratory.
At the outfalls laboratories, the systematic daily examination of sewage
treated and the resulting effluent and sludge, as well as the water of the River
Thames at both high and low tides, has been continued in addition to the other work
which is carried out in connection with these laboratories.
Outfalls.
In previous reports reference has been made to experiments conducted in regard
to the biological treatment of sewage. It has been found possible, by a variety of
methods of treatment, to produce an effluent which, on the scale of the Council's
operations, could be admitted to the Thames without producting undesirable
Biological
treatment of
sewage.