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22
The Chaffinch Brook.
My attention was called by the Council to the practice of
children bathing in this stream, and I reported specially
thereon to your Committee. This stream is under constant
observation because the effluent from the Croydon Sewage
Farm is discharged into it. The naked eye appearance has
in most instances been satisfactory, but in order to control
these inspections, samples of the water have been submitted to
the Public Analysts from time to time, who have pronounced
favourably upon the specimens submitted to them An
open stream which is of easy access to school children is not
unnaturally a most attractive source of amusement, and so
long as this stream remains of inviting aspect to them, so
long will young bathers be found therein. The practice would
become harmful if pathogenic germs invaded it, and the most
effectual way of putting a stop to bathing there, is to have it
efficiently covered in.
Glanders and Farcy.
Three cases of Glanders in horses have been notified to
me by the County Inspector under the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Act as having arisen in this District. All three
cases occurred in Shortlands, one in Station Road and two
others in Kingswood Road. The horses were slaughtered
and buried in quick lime, under the superintendence of the
Inspector. The stables and the immediate surrounding premises
were also disinfected to my satisfaction.
Factories and Workshops.
Section 132 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901,
states:—
"The Medical Officer of Health of every District
Council shall, in his Annual Report to them, report
specifically on the administration of this Act in workshops
and work-places, and he shall send a copy of his
Annual Report or so much of it as deals with this subject
to the Secretary of State."
There are now 132 Workshops on the Register.