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STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Public Health (Ships)
Regulations 1970
Public Health
(Aircraft)
Regulations 1970
Port Authorities notified 196 and fifteen persons respectively as arriving from
declared cholera and smallpox areas. One hundred and eighty-nine of the
196 persons had been on holiday in Spain and Portugal, which in the Autumn
had been declared cholera endemic areas. All were kept under surveillance
for the statutory period and in no case did they develop cholera or smallpox.
Disinfection
Sections 166-168
Act 1936
Local authorities have the power to provide a disinfecting station and to
arrange for the cleansing and disinfection of premises and articles.
Generally, in cases of infectious disease, terminal disinfection of rooms and
contents can be satisfactorily effected by a thorough "spring cleaning".
Sometimes, however, it may be necessary to take more rigorous action by
treating the premises with Formaldehyde. During the year it was found
necessary to treat only one property in this way.
At the Council's disinfecting station steam is used to disinfect clothes, bedclothing
and the like, while articles liable to be damaged by steam, e.g.
library books, are treated with Formaldehyde. Items treated included 52
garments, 234 library books and 171 miscellaneous items. Used clothing,
consisting of 45 separate items, was treated for despatch abroad to those
countries which require certification that treatment has been effected. No
charge is made by the Council for these services.
References to other work undertaken at the disinfecting station are contained
in the item "Disinfestation" in this report.
Public Health
Laboratory
Service
The Public Health Laboratory Service at Whipps Cross Hospital, London,
E.11., is available for the examination of bacteriological specimens. For the
convenience of general practitioners and the public, several specimen
tion boxes are positioned at various points throughout the borough. The
specimens are collected from the boxes daily and delivered to the laboratory.
We record our appreciation of the invaluable service made available throughout
the year by the Director, Dr. Thom, and his staff. (See Tables, 6,7, and8).
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