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24
PUBLIC HOUSES.
During the year a special inspection was made in respect to the sanitary
accommodation provided at the licensed houses in the Borough. Altogether some
199 premises were inspected. They were found satisfactory except in two instances.
At the end of the year steps were being taken to remedy the unsatisfactory conditions
existing.
VERMINOUS HOUSES.
The houses in which it was necessary to take measures on account of the presence
of vermin numbered 329, and some 573 rooms were dealt with during the year.
Sanitary notices were served where necessary and the usual steps were taken. In
an appreciable proportion the cases came under our notice through intimations
from the School Authorities.
During the year the homes of some 58 children, 24 boys and 34 girls, notified
as verminous by the School Medical Officer, were reported with a view to the homes
and bedding, where necessary, being dealt with by the Sanitary Authority on the
children being cleansed and their clothing disinfected at the cleansing stations of the
London County Council in the neighbourhood. Intimations were received that 20
boys and 17 girls had been given the opportunity of being cleansed at the cleansing
stations, that in the cases of 4 boys and 9 girls statutory notices had been served
upon the parents to cleanse the children within 24 hours under Section 122 of the
Children's Act, 1908, and that in the cases of 8 girls legal proceedings were
pending for non-compliance with the requirements of Statutory Notices under the
Act mentioned. In a few instances the same children figured more than once
upon the notices and their homes had to be visited and dealt with accordingly.
In practically all the cases reported the homes were visited by the Sanitary
Inspectors, and the following summarises the results obtained :—In 48 the rooms
occupied were satisfactory, varying from fairly clean to very clean, in 9 they
were dirty and in 1 buggy. In 52 the bedding was clean, or fairly so, in 2 it was
dirty, and in 4 bugs were noticed. In two of the houses evidence of poverty was
marked.
No evidence of lice was found in connection with any of the cases investigated.
Arising out of the visits of the Sanitary Inspectors in connection with the cases
reported by the School Medical Officer some 9 sanitary notices were served upon
owners and one upon the occupier of verminous dwellings, mostly for general
cleansing and repairs.
The children reported by the School Authorities as suffering from scabies
numbered 59, of whom 27 were males and 32 females. As a result of the enquiries
made by the Sanitary Officers one other case came under observation. As far as
practicable steps were taken to prevent the spread of infection.