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In addition, under Section 51 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, the following
were scheduled as offensive trades in this district, with the approval of the Local Government
Board, on the 12th day of February, 1912, viz.:—
Blood drier.
Fat melter and fat extractor.
Glue maker.
Gut scraper.
Leather dresser.
Rag and bone dealer.
Size maker.
Tanner.
Early in the year a petition was received from residents living in the immediate neighbourhood
of Brentfield Road, Neasden, complaining of offensive odours proceeding from a Factory used for
the manufacturing of Dope and Varnish.
Upon investigation, the nuisance complained of was found to be caused by the escaping
vapours given off during the process of the boiling of ingredients used in the manufacture of Varnish.
Considerable sums were spent by the owners in devising means to remedy the nuisance, by
installing exhaust fans, condensing chambers, etc., ultimately with successful results.
Since the completion of the apparatus, no further complaints have been received, and the
premises, when visited, were found to be free of the irritating fumes.
A communication was sent to the Ministry of Health, enquiring whether in any other district
the trade of a Dope and Varnish maker had been scheduled as an offensive trade. A reply in the
negative was received.
With the exception of Rag and Bone Dealers, there are no trades established in
Willesden coming within the trades defined in the above Schedules.
An application was received during the year for permission to establish the business of a
Rag and Bone Dealer at Lower Place, which the Council refused.
There are ten Rag and Bone Dealers in Willesden, and in no instance were their trades found
to be carried on unsatisfactorily.
(3) Common Lodging Houses.—During the year one of the two common lodging houses
in the district has been closed. In the case of the other common lodging house, the accommodation
has been reduced by half.
(4) Underground Sleeping Rooms.—Regulations governing underground sleeping rooms
were made by the Council in 1913. The Annual Report of that year contains a full reprint of the
same. During the greater period of the war, work in connection with the Regulations ceased, owing
to the difficulty of obtaining labour and materials, but is now being partially resumed.
Other Sanitary Conditions Requiring Notice.—Note should be made of any important matters
of Sanitary environment which have received attention during the year 1919, or demand special consideration
now, and are not included in the above headings.
Nothing of any importance has occurred during the year relating to the above heading.
Schools.—The sanitary condition and water supply of schools, especially public elementary schools,
should be reported on.
The total number of Public Elementary Schools in the district is 34. Of this number, 22 are
Council Schools and 12 Church or Non-Provided Schools. Included in the total number are two
special schools, one for mentally, and the other for physically defective children.
Two of the Council's Schools are temporary buildings.
The Council's Schools are of modern construction. The sanitary arrangements are quite
satisfactory and in accordance with the Regulations of the Board of Education relating to Public
Elementary Schools.
The Non-Provided Schools, although not of modern construction, have had, as far as practicable,
the sanitary arrangements amended in accordance with modern principles.
Water is supplied to the schools in all instances from the main of the Metropolitan Water
Board, and adequate facilities are provided in the playgrounds for supplying drinking water for the
scholars.
Schools.—The action taken in relation to the health of the scholars and for preventing the spread
of infectious disease (c.f., Memorandum on Closure of and Exclusion from School, 1909).
Experience has taught that the control of infectious disease depends mainly on the control of
the individuals suffering, and that "missed" cases and so-called "carriers" are the principal means
whereby infection is spread. The exclusion of contacts from school is only important therefore,
where there is a probability that such contacts will develop the disease—and this probability
is small where the contact has already suffered from the disease in question.
On receipt of a notification of infectious illness, the house is visited by a Health Visitor, who
advises the parent as to the best means to adopt to prevent the spread of infection, and exclusion of
scholars is carried out according to the following regulations:—