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Diseases
of the
Respiratory
Organs.
Scabies.
Cleansing
and
Disinfection.
Bug
eradication
130
The number of deaths from diseases of the Respiratory Organs (excluding
Tuberculosis) was 261 of 77 less than in the previous year. The death-rate
for the Whole Borough was 1.2 per 1,000 of the population.
The arrangements with Bethnal Green for the treatment of adults and with
the London County Council for the treatment of children under school leaving
age were continued. During this year 54 adults were sent to Bethnal Green and
14 children to the L.C.C. Bathing station.
182 persons were cleansed during the year and had their clothing disinfected—180
adults and 2 children. 178 were cleansed because of vermin
and 4 because of infectious disease.
2,642 rooms were fumigated and the bedding, etc., removed and disinfected
by steam. Of these, 1,309 rooms were fumigated because of infectious
disease, 123 as a result of pulmonary tuberculosis, and 1,210 because they
were verminous. In addition to these, scabies occurred in 350 families and
the bedding was taken away and disinfected by steam.
The disinfection of second-hand clothing, prior to export to South Africa
and the supervision of the packing of the goods was carried out as in previous
years. The number of such articles dealt with this year reached 72,320.
The total number of articles disinfected for all purposes was 104,423.
Arising from a report I submitted on the need for a scheme of Bug Eradication,
A Sub-Committee was appointed to consider the matter. Visits were
paid to Hackney and Kensington to inspect the plant installed for fumigation
with Hydrogen Cyanide and it was decided to adopt the method used in Hackney.
On May 29th Mr. Edwards was appointed to supervise the disinfestation
and draw up a scheme.
We were fortunate in securing a suitable site belonging to the Council,
42, Narrow Street, and the Chamber is now in course of erection.
The chamber is specially constructed to make it gas tight, the furniture
van containing the household effects is drawn into it, the chamber closed and
the gas applied. After 2 hours exposure, the gas is extracted and when quite
free the van in driven to the new flat and the furniture is delivered.
In view of the urgency of the problem and as flats were becoming ready
for occupation before our scheme could operate, it was felt necessary to place
a contract with a firm of fumigators. The furniture vans were driven to