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The homes of all prospective tenants for Council houses are
visited by an enquiry officer of the Borough Engineer's Department
and arrangements have been made for the furniture to be
fumigated in a removal van with HCN gas, and for the
bedding to be treated in a steam disinfector. The treatment by
hydrogen cyanide gas is carried out by a contractor, while the
steam treatment of bedding is done by the Public Health
Department.
All premises are carefully inspected at the time of routine
redecoration and 6 cases of slight infestation were thus
revealed during the year. After the premises have been treated
a spray is lent to the tenant and a quantity of insecticide
provided, and instructions given as to its use. All vacant
houses are examined prior to re-occupation.
So far as other premises are concerned 18 have been
disinfested by hydrogen cyanide gas, 12 by sulphur, and 26 by
liquid insecticides following notice from the Public Health
Department. Any such work by hydrogen cyanide has been
carried out by a contractor employed by the owner or occupier.
SCHOOLS.
The Middlesex County Council are the Education Authority.
There are 3 secondary schools and 26 elementary schools
in the Borough. In addition there are 24 private schools known
to the Department.
All the schools are supplied with water from the water
company’s mains. The majority of the schools are of modern
construction, being well lighted and ventilated and provided with
up-to-date sanitary accommodation.
No school was closed during 1937 by reason of the
incidence of infectious disease.
Individual scholars have been excluded from school on the
occurrence of infectious disease in the home in accordance with
the memorandum of the Middlesex County Council.
Private Schools.—With regard to Private Schools, the first
observation must be that the powers of Local Authorities
from a Public Health point of view are distinctly limited.
Local Authorities have no direct statutory power to ascertain
the existence of all Private Schools in their areas. With regard
to Wembley, however, there is no reason to think otherwise
than that most of the Private Schools are known to the Health
Department. Routine investigations on the incidence of
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