View report page

120
4. It would, therefore, appear that one of the real needs of Willesden is the establishment of a
Health Centre in the neighbourhood of the " Falcon " so that the requirements of the South Kilburn
and Kensal Rise areas may be met.
5. The rebuilding of Health Centre (2) is also required as this Centre is both structurally unsuitable
and insufficient for the work to be done.
G. The Committee are also aware of the need for the extension of Health Centre (3). This is the
subject of a report now before the Committee.
7. The foregoing table also shows that District No. 17, that is, Braintcroft area, gives a percentage
attendance of mothers and children under 5 of 45 as compared with 49 being the average for the
whole of Willesden. District No. 16, the Wykeham—Neasden area, gives a percentage attendance of
mothers and children under 5 of 60 as compared with 49 being the average for the whole of Willesden.
It may be that a clinic in this area will be required and if this is the view of the Committee it would be
desirable to earmark about an acre of land in a suitable position for a Braintcroft—Neasden Health
Centre in the future.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
Medical Officer of Health.
May 12th, 1936.
APPENDIX N.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Disinfestation of Privately-owned Houses.
The Council at its meeting on the 17th December, 1935, decided to make arrangements for the
disinfestation of privately-owned houses, and I was instructed to report on the working of the scheme
at the expiry of three months.
The scheme began on the 20th January, 1936, and this report deals with the work done up to
20th April, 1936.
During the three months under review 54 verminous houses, representing 92 rooms, have been
disinfested. Of these 92 rooms, 24 have been disinfested by the owners, who have stated that whilst
the workmen were on the premises preparing the rooms, it was more convenient for them to carry on
and complete the work themselves. The remaining 68 rooms have been disinfested by this Department,
the owners paying the fee of five shillings per room.
In 20 of the 54 cases bedding was removed to the Municipal Hospital for steam disinfection.
All cases were revisited at the expiry of between 10 and 12 days after disinfestation and again
10-12 days later to ascertain if there had been any re-appearance of bugs in the furniture or premises.
In two rooms bugs were noted at a subsequent visit and disinfestation was repeated in these two cases.
All houses which have been disinfested by the Department will be visited at later periods to make sure
that infestation has not recurred.
These revisits afford the opportunity of the instruction of the tenants, where necessary, in domestic
cleanliness and impressing upon them that while chemical insecticides and lethal gases can assist in
disinfestation, they are actually of secondary importance to the constant vigilance of the housewife
and her own efforts as regards cleansing.
Mr. Berry, who was appointed by the Council for this work of disinfestation, carries it out
under the supervision of the Chief Sanitary Inspector and he has the co-operation of District Sanitary
Inspectors and, if need be, of Health Visitors, in assisting tenants in the cleansing and keeping clean
of their rooms.
Insecticides used.—Ortho-dichlor benzene, sulphur and some proprietary preparations have been
used in connection with disinfestation. Having regard to various considerations, sulphur is the
insecticide principally used now and the results have so far proved satisfactory.
Loss of Spray.—I regret to report that the original spray which cost 50s. was stolen by an
unknown person. The Disinfector had completed spraying a room and left the spray in the garden of
the house for a few minutes whilst he went to a convenience ; as the weather was foggy he thought that
the spray would be safe. On his return he found the spray missing. The loss was reported to the
police but the spray has not been recovered.