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45
SMOKE ABATEMENT.
During the year, 186 observations were made and 27 complaints were received
and dealt with. In each case the attention of the offender was drawn to the matter.
Four intimation notices were issued, but in no instance was the service of a statutory
notice or the institution of legal proceedings called for.
SWIMMING BATHS.
The new Public Baths Establishment in Seymour Place was officially oponed
by the Chairman of the Baths Committee (Alderman William C. Cole) on the 29th
April, 1937. The building, which involved an expenditure of approximately £250,000,
covers an area of 37,000 square feet and contains two swimming pools, slipper baths,
laundries, and a squash rackets court.
The water from the swimming pools is treated by modern filtration and purification
plant. Samples, taken periodically, have, under bacteriological examination,
yielded entirely satisfactory results.
There are two privately owned swimming pools in the Borough ; one at the
Middlesex Hospital for the use of the staff, and the other at the Polytechnic in
Regent Street, available only to members of the Institute.
ERADICATION OF BED BUGS.
As in previous years a considerable amount of work was carried out in 1937 in
connection with vermin disinfestation. Much of it had reference to the removal of
furniture and bedding from old houses to the new municipal flats. In addition, the
routine following-up of old cases of infestation was actively pursued.
Particulars of the action taken for the eradication of bed bugs are set out below :
(1) Number of Council houses found to be infested 93
Number of other houses found to be infested 295
Number of Council houses disinfested 93
Number of other houses disinfested 295
(2) Methods employed for freeing infested houses from bed bugs:—
(a) In badly infested premises. Furniture is removed in vans, treated with
hydrogen cyanide, and returned to the premises. Rooms are stripped
of wooden mouldings and sprayed with an insecticide.
(b) In moderately infested premises. Wallpaper is stripped, wooden
ings are removed, and treatment is carried out either by a blow lamp
or with an insecticide applied with a sprayer loaned by the Council
(c) In slightly infested premises. Cleansing is carried out by tenants
selves, and use is made by them of an insecticide applied with a
sprayer loaned by the Council.
(3) Methods employed for ensuring that the belongings of tenants are
free from vermin before removal to Council houses:—
(a) Belongings are collected from the old homes in vans, treated with
hydrogen cyanide, and delivered to the new homes after disinfestation.
(b) Bedding is treated in the Council's steam disinfector.
(4) Whether the work of disinfestation is carried out by the local authority
or by a contractor:—
(a) Hydrogen cyanide treatment of furniture, etc., is carried out by a
contractor.
(b) Buildings are troated eithor by builders using blow lamps or an
insecticide (the latter supplied by the Council with loan of sprayer),
or by the Council's staff using a sprayer and inseoticide.