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may be made therefor. The Council supported a suggestion of the Standing Joint Committee that
an amendment of the Act should be sought to make it clear that a sanitary authority may provide
and maintain dustbins at any premises without charge.
Shops.—Late in the year a survey of shops was commenced and a start made on the compilation of
a new card index register. Inspections numbered seventy-four, and in five instances service of notice
under the Shops Acts was necessary.
Pet Shops.—The Pet Animals Act, 1951, which came into force on the 1st April, 1952, provides for
a system of inspection and licensing annually of pet shops by local authorities, a fee of 10s. being
payable in respect of each licence. At the end of the year nine premises remained on the register. A
licence was refused in one case in which the applicant proposed to trade from a kiosk, entirely open
on one side, where there was inadequate provision for the protection from damp and cold of the animals
and birds intended to be offered for sale. Fifteen visits were paid to pet shops and three notices were
served.
Diseased or Infirm Persons.—In the case of two infirm and physically incapacitated old ladies, aged
75 and 80 years, who were living alone under insanitary conditions and whose relatives or friends
were unable to render assistance, it became necessary to resort to action under the National Assistance
(Amendment) Act, 1951. In both cases the magistrate made orders for removal to Paddington General
Hospital for a period not exceeding three weeks. In the first a subsequent X-ray examination revealed
a fractured femur and the patient remained voluntarily in hospital for nearly seven months. On
her discharge she returned to her home where she managed very well with the assistance of friends
and a home help. The other patient remained in hospital for seven weeks and then, owing to her
mental condition, was transferred to Tooting Bec Hospital.
Burial or Cremation of the Dead.—Under the provisions of section 50 of the National Assistance Act,
1948, it is a duty of the Council to cause to be buried or cremated the body of any person who has
died or been found dead in the Borough, where no other suitable arrangements for disposal of the
body have been or are being made. The arrangements set up when the section became operative on
the 5th July, 1948, continued to work satisfactorily and during 1953 ten burials and one cremation
were undertaken by the Council.
Disinfestation.—During the year 439 dwellings (involving 699 rooms) were disinfested, an insecticide
based on D.D.T. being used. Included in the number of dwellings treated were seventy-one
requisitioned premises and ten municipal flats where bugs were found. Altogether 116 requisitioned
dwellings were, on becoming vacant, inspected for evidence of vermin.
Treatment of verminous furniture by hydrocyanic acid gas in specially constructed vans, which
has been carried out by the Council through a contractor for many years, has been continued, more
particularly in the case of removals to fresh housing accommodation. In 1953 the furniture of seventy
families (of whom fifty-nine were being rehoused) was dealt with by this method. In addition, 5,131
verminous articles of bedding were disinfested by steam.
Verminous Persons.—The Council's Cleansing Station in Lisson Grove dealt with 1,086 verminous
persons: adults 648 (men 534, women 114); children 438 (boys 85, girls 353). Providing they consent,
aged and feeble persons in need of cleansing may now be cleansed in their homes under the power
given to sanitary authorities by section 43 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1953.
It was unnecessary to take advantage of this new provision during the year.
Shelter.—It was not found necessary during the year to make use of the shelter accommodation
provided at No. 217, Lisson Grove, under section 195 (4) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
for families temporarily dispossessed of their homes. The room set aside for this purpose was, however,
utilised for other public health work.
Rodent Control.—Complaints numbered 932, and 779 infestations (ship rat 206, common rat 231,
mice 342) were discovered. The scheme of block treatment commenced late in 1949 was continued
and thirty-five blocks, involving 2,203 premises, were dealt with. Treatment was carried out by the
Council's staff at 808 premises. It is believed that the rat population has now reached a relatively
low level, but mice were again more in evidence.
Owners and occupiers co-operated generally by carrying out proofing work and by giving attention
to drainage defects. In no case was formal action under the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act, 1949,
necessary but fifty-two informal notices were served. In addition, ten statutory notices relating to
drainage defects were issued under the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
Sewers were baited at 356 points in January and at 352 points in June. On both occasions the
recorded poison " take " was approximately 67 per cent.