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25
could be traced, and investigation is still proceeding in the case of five herds, including
three from which cows have already been slaughtered.
All raw milk from which positive samples were obtained had been pasteurised before
sale to the public.
Sanitary inspection
Disinflation
Reports of 189 instances of infestation were received from 156 establishments controlled
by the Council, e.g., school meals centres, schools, rest centres and parks. Infestation by
rats, mice, cockroaches, bugs, ants, flies, fleas, mosquitoes and clothes moths were dealt
with and 177 of the infestations satisfactorily remedied by the end of the year.
The disinfestation of dwelling houses owned by the Council is undertaken by the
staff of the housing and valuation department. Advice on the latest methods of control
is given as occasion arises.
Talks on the most effective measures for controlling and eliminating pests were given
to staff employed in the restaurants and catering department, the London Fire Brigade,
and at the Council's large welfare homes.
Restaurants
and
catering
Over 1,300 visits of inspection were made to school meals centres, dining centres
and kitchens. Twenty-five reports of illness following consumption of school meals
were investigated. In no case was contamination of food confirmed bacteriologically.
Welfare
establishments
Regular inspections, at least once a quarter, were made of 72 homes, hostels, rest
centres and other premises in connection with sanitary conditions.
Complaints
A large number of complaints of insanitary and overcrowded home conditions was
received from the public. These were referred to the health departments of the appropriate
boroughs.
Food by-laws
By-laws for the protection of food made by the Council under section 15 of the
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, were confirmed by the Minister of Food and came into
operation on 3rd November, 1952.
Lectures on food hygiene were given to the staff of welfare establishments and to
civil defence personnel.
Advisory
and
research work
Advice was given to staff of other departments within the Council's service on
problems relating to sanitation, drainage, and other public health matters in connection
with the preparation of plans for new buildings and for the adaptation of existing
premises.
Experiments were carried out during the year, in association with the architect's and
the housing and valuation departments and the Plumbing Research Committee of the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, to test the value of certain new
plumbing theories. As a result of the exhaustive tests which have been applied to different
plumbing systems specially installed in the Council's multi-storeyed dwellings in various
parts of the county, it would appear that it may be practicable to instal a new and simple
type of plumbing, known as the 'single pipe' system, which would prove less costly
to Provide and more economical in the use of materials than the conventional svstems.
Representation
on committees
of outside
bodies
The Chief Inspector continued to represent the Council on a number of committees
of the British Standards Institution, and is chairman of two committees and two subcommittees
appointed to consider standards in relation to sanitary appliances, dustbins,
traps and flushing cisterns. He is also a member of the Plumbing Research Committee
of the Building Research Board of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Blind and partially-sighted persons
The following figures show the number of persons examined under the National
Assistance Act, 1948, for certification of blindness and the results. The figures do not
include those relating to children of school age, details of which are to be found in the
table on page 185.