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All occupiers of public kitchens were likewise written to, and their co.operation on
lines set out invited.
The usual precautionary methods adopted in the City during the summer months
were continued. These were as follows:—
Inspection of dwellings.
Inquiries as to the provision of proper covered dust bins.
Flushing of Courts.
Street Scavenging.
Flushing of Gullies.
Cleansing operations at Wharves.
Inspection of Kitchens.
The supervision of bins where horse refuse is known to be
stored; and
Attempts to disinfect the streets outside Billingsgate Market.
Cleansing at the Central Markets, Leadenhall, Farringdon and Billingsgate
Markets is undertaken by special Committees, which doubtless gave due consideration
to the subject, as did also the Streets Committee to the refuse shoot at Hornchurch.
EXAMINATION FOR PATHOGENIC BACTERIA.
Any medical practitioner desiring examinations of specimens for Pathogenic
Bacteria in cases of suspected infectious disease occurring amongst their patients
residing in the City, should forward them to the Medical Officer of Health at the
Guildhall. Arrangements have been made for free examination, and the results
obtained are communicated as speedily as possible.
During the year, the following specimens were so dealt with. It will be seen that
positive results were obtained in 50 per cent. of these cases.
Specimen. Disease suspected. Result— Positive. Negative.
14 Swabbings from Throat Diphtheria 6 8
9 Sputum Tuberculosis 5 4
3 Blood Typhoid Fever 2 1
CREMATIONS.
The total number of Cremations carried out at the Corporation Crematorium at
Ilford last year was 45 as compared with 42 in 1914, and reference to the Table on
page 29 shows that an increase is recorded at several other Crematoria, the total number
in the United Kingdom during 1915 being 1,379, as compared with 1,279 in 1914.
The prejudice against this form of disposal of the dead appears to be only slowly
losing its hold upon the community. Cremation, with what some regard as its Pagan
associations, offends the susceptibilities of many, but apart from sentiment there can be
no question that the most hygienic and best method of disposing of the bodies of our
dead, is the speedy reduction of them to harmless ashes in specially constructed furnaces.