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Sanitary inspection
Disinfestation
Reports of 200 instances of infestation, involving 350 visits and re-inspections, were
received from establishments controlled by the Council, e.g. school meals centres, schools,
welfare establishments, housing estates and parks. Infestations by a variety of pests
including rats, mice, pigeons, cockroaches, bugs, ants, silverfish, clothes moths, furniture
beetles, clover mites, wharf borers and flies were investigated and control measures
proved effective. The extended use of insecticidal resins was found to be most effective,
particularly in the eradication of infestations of cockroaches. A number of establishments
were treated and two long standing infestations were eradicated.
School meals
More than 500 visits of inspection were made to school meals centres and 22 reports
of illness following consumption of school meals were investigated. In no case was the
meal found to be the cause of the outbreak.
Welfare
establishments
Regular inspections, relating to hygienic conditions, of 71 homes, hostels and other
welfare establishments were made at least once a quarter.
Complaints
A large number of complaints of insanitary conditions were received from residents
in London and referred to the health department of the appropriate metropolitan
borough council.
Advisory and
research work
Advice was given to other departments of the Council on problems relating to
sanitation, drainage, food hygiene and other public health matters and in connection
with the preparation of plans for new buildings and the adaptation of existing premises.
The plumbing experiments referred to in the Reports for 1952 and 1953 were
continued and extended in association with the Architect's department and the
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The installation of 'single stack'
plumbing continued during the year and it is satisfactory to record that completed
installations are functioning without complaint.
The Chief Inspector continued to represent the Council on a number of Committees
of the British Standards Institution appointed to consider standards in relation to
sanitary fittings, drain pipes, traps, refuse chutes and refuse containers.
Blind and partially-sighted persons
During the year 1,820 examinations were made in connection with certification under
the National Assistance Act, 1948, of blind and partially-sighted persons. In addition,
247 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. On examination 65 persons were found to be neither blind nor
partially-sighted. Re-examinations to confirm certificates given in previous years and
certificates relating to persons already registered by other authorities who have moved
into London are omitted from the tables.
New
registrations
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.
The treatments recommended most frequently were surgical treatment for cataract
(110 instances or 36 per cent. of those found with cataract as the principal cause of their
defective vision) and medical treatment or hospital supervision for glaucoma (82
instances or 68 per cent.). That blindness is principally a problem associated with old
age is demonstrated by the age distribution in table (i).
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