View report page

13
Stammering Children.—There are three classes for stammering children held twice weekly
at Wesley Road, Percy Road and Kensal Rise Schools, and conducted by Mr. A. D. Bradfield. The
class at Percy Road consists of boys, and the classes at Wesley Road and Kensal Rise include both
boys and girls. Each class lasts one hour. Cases of stammering are referred to the Health Department
for examination as to their suitability for admission to the stammering class.
SECONDARY AND TRADE SCHOOLS.
During the year the arrangement by which the medical staff of the Willesden Council carry
out the inspection of pupils attending Secondary and Trade Schools in Willesden on behalf of the
Middlesex County Council has continued.
984 examinations of secondary school pupils have been carried out during the year 1931.
273 defects were found amongst the scholars examined. Parents and Head Teachers are
notified of defects and are advised as to the action to be taken.
The Middlesex County Council have not up to the present arranged to put in operation the
scheme of treatment for defective vision and dental defects referred to in last year's report.
PROVISION OF MEALS.
138,361 meals were supplied in 1931 as compared with 119,831 in 1930, and 98,104 in 1929.
The recipients of these meals are mainly children of the unemployed, widows and deserted
wives.
HOME NURSING SERVICE.
The Home Nurse employed by the Council nursed 341 cases during the year, and in connection
with such cases paid 3,869 visits. 1,340 of these visits were paid in the South Kilburn Ward, 867 in the
Mid-Kilburn Ward, 401 in the North Kilburn Ward, 354 in the Stonebridge Ward, 249 in the Cricklewood
Ward, 202 in the Church End Ward, and smaller numbers in the other wards of Willesden.
Of the 341 cases nursed during the year, 332 were new cases. 257 of these 332 new cases were
referred by the Health Department for nursing, 36 by private doctors and 39 by Hospitals,
Associations and private persons.
Ophthalmia neonatorum received 443 visits and other ophthalmia cases 499 visits.
SANITARY WORK.
The number of houses in Willesden at the end of 1931 was 30,377.
During the year the total number of inspections and re-inspections made by the Sanitary
Staff was 22,071 as compared with, 26,975 in 1930.
The houses inspected under the Housing Acts numbered 876, as compared with 969 in 1930.
The number of complaints received, 2,277, is lower than last year.
The total number of Notices issued and nuisances abated were 5,951 and 18,857 respectively.
Work done under the Housing Acts is shown in the tabular statement in the body of the report.
Of the twelve houses closed as unfit for human habitation in 1925, three are still in occupation.
Smoke and Sulphurous Fumes.—During the year the district has been troubled by these
nuisances from three generating stations:—
(1) In one instance, despite the installation of special apparatus to reduce the emission of
grit from pulverised fuel, residents in the vicinity of the works continue to be affected.
The matter was taken up by the Legal Committee, who sought Counsel's opinion.
(2) Another generating station which had introduced pulverised fuel created a nuisance frorr
grit. Experiments and alterations to the plant at these works have effected improvement.
(3) Complaints of a nuisance from grit and the sulphurous condition of the atmosphere were
received from residents in the neighbourhood of the third generating station. Upon
investigation it appeared that the grit was emitted at night time during the process of
"soot blowing," whilst the effect of the fumes was particularly noticeable by the scorched
and shrivelled appearance of vegetation within a belt extending approximately 200
yards by 600 yards. By the end of the year the Company had installed additional plant
which had considerably relieved the pressure upon the older plant. A new gas washing
plant is nearing completion.
PUBLIC MORTUARY.
During the year there were 115 admissions to the Mortuary, as compared with 121 in 1930;
9 of these were admitted for accommodation only; 42 were admitted for an inquest only; 54 were
admitted for a post-mortem only ; and 10 were admitted for post-mortem followed by an inquest.
The total number of post-mortems performed during the year was 64.