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The regular examination of the drinking water at Council hospitals, etc., served
by private wells was continued ; in all cases chlorination is applied. Foodstuffs
and milk were examined as to quality, and sets of samples of various tendered
materials were reported upon as to which were the most suitable quotations for
acceptance, having regard to quality and price. The condition of the water in the
swimming baths and ponds was examined and the regular testing of the air in the
vehicular tunnels at Blackwell and Rotherhithe as to its carbon monoxide and
black suspended matter content, etc., was continued ; it showed that the ventilating
plant had maintained the atmosphere in a satisfactory condition. Statutory work
under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, the Petroleum (Mixtures) Order,
1929, the London County Council (Celluloid, etc.) Act, 1915, the Public Health
(London) Act, 1936, and the London Building Act, 1930, etc., was done as required,
and the air examinations in connection with the problem of atmospheric pollution
were continued, the results being communicated to the Department of Scientific
and Industrial Research. Among the many other matters dealt with during the
year were the examination of drugs and medical stores, the analytical control of
steam-raising plants, etc., at hospitals and institutions, the analysis of metals, paints,
building materials, school meals, oils, the testing of safety lamps, decontamination
of premises from phosphorus bombs, etc. The formulation or amendment of many
specifications was considered both in regard to those of the Council and of the British
Standards Institution.
The development of new analytical methods was kept under review and, in
particular, the use of the spectrograph and of an absorptiometer, designed in the
laboratory, might be mentioned.
Sewage
disposal
Analytical work in connection with the disposal of sewage proceeded as formerly.
In addition to the primary sedimentation process by which the sewage was treated
at both outfalls, part of the flow at the Northern Outfall Works was further subjected
to secondary sedimentation. The sludge digestion plant produced a satisfactory
yield of gas. In order to obtain information as to the condition of the water of the
river Thames, into which the effluents are discharged, periodical samples of river
water were examined, these being taken at various points from Teddington down
to the sludge dumping area, the position of which is fixed, during wartime, by Admiralty
orders. An investigation was made during the year as to whether there was
any accumulation of sludge on the river bed in this area. The results showed that
there was no evidence of accumulation of "fresh" sludge and in this connection
it must be borne in mind that the purification of the sludge by oxidation begins as
soon as it is disseminated throughout the large volume of water into which it is
discharged.
Work on the manurial use of sewage products was continued, the chief material
made being a house refuse sewage-screenings compost. Comparative tests of the
fertiliser value of this, compared with those of other substances, were made during
the year at a mental hospital farm in liaison with the work being carried out under
the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council.
Enemy
action
HOSPITALS AND ANCILLARY SERVICES
General and special (other than mental) hospitals
Between August, 1940, when the first air-raids on London occurred, and the end
of the war there were few months entirely free from enemy activity, but intensive
raiding was mainly confined to three periods—from September, 1940 to May, 1941,
from January to April, 1944, and from June, 1944, when the first V weapon attacks
began, until March, 1945.
In all, there were some 660 incidents in the Council's general, mental and other
special hospitals, and at only three of the 100 hospitals concerned (viz., Pinewood,
Northern Hospital and Brunswick House) was no incident recorded.