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In connection with the development of an estate in Lambeth the Council obtained
powers in the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953 to enable it to
remove a quantity of human remains from a disused burial ground. This work was
carried out in accordance with conditions imposed by the Secretary of State and
Regulations made by the Medical Officer of Health. All exhumations and re-interments
were supervised by the Inspectorate of the Department and a total of 201 cases containing
the remains of about 802 persons were removed. Re-interment took place at Tottenham.
Exhumation
of human
remains
Advice was given to other departments of the Council on problems relating to
sanitation, drainage and other public health matters in connection with the preparation
of plans for new buildings and the adaptation of existing premises.
Advisory and
research work
The plumbing experiments referred to in the Report for 1952 were continued in
association with the Architect's department and the Plumbing Research Committee of
the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The installation of' single pipe'
systems of plumbing was extended during the year.
The Chief Inspector continued to represent the Council on a number of committees
of the British Standards Institution and as chairman of the three committees and three
sub-committees appointed to consider standards in relation to sanitary appliances,
chemical closets, water closet seats, dustbins, traps and flushing cisterns. He was also
a member of the Plumbing Research Committee of the Building Research Board of
the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
Representation
on committees
of outside
bodies
Blind and partially-sighted persons
During the year, 1,741 examinations were made in connection with certification under
the National Assistance Act, 1948, of blind and partially-sighted persons. In addition,
297 certificates were accepted from other local authorities, hospitals and private
ophthalmologists.
The results of examinations of persons newly registered during the year, and of the
re-examination of those previously recommended to obtain treatment are given in
tables (i) and (ii) below; 52 of those examined were found to be neither blind nor
partially-sighted. Re-examinations to confirm certificates given in previous years, and
certificates accepted from other authorities relating to persons already registered (transfers
into London) are omitted from the tables.

* Includes eight schoolchildren examined under the Education Acts.
The principal cause of defective vision was frequently associated with a secondary
condition, e.g., cataract with glaucoma. Recommendations for treatment are generally
made where some improvement of vision may be expected, though improvement may
be insufficient to lead to removal from the register of blind and partially-sighted persons.
Persons recommended to obtain treatment are re-examined at intervals after the initial
registration. The number of persons re-examined for this reason in 1954 is shown in
the following table.
41