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6
reference to these circumstances even though they did not, during
the year, actually have any effect one way or the other on the
health of the district.
In this as in other districts it was at one time feared that
the frequenting of air raid shelters by large volumes of individuals
would give rise to major public health problems. The trenches
and basements were, of course, designed for use in certain definite
circumstances, namely, as places of temporary harbourage for
those caught out in the streets. It was never anticipated that
they would be used for long periods, and still less for such long
periods at night-time. Designed for the one purpose they have
been found seriously wanting in many respects in the light of the
demands later made on them. They were damp, if not definitely
wet, cold and ill-ventilated, while the nuisances from the sanitary
arrangements were soon intolerable. Fortunately, the use made
of them here fell very short of their capacity. The 66 shelters
in this district provided sitting accommodation in public trenches
for 17,000, school trenches 11,000, and in basements for 3,000,
in all some 31,000. The Chief Warden reported on October 25th
that he estimated that not more than 5,000 persons were using
the shelters regularly each night. During November the district
was less subject to air attack. This factor, coupled, no doubt,
with the discomfort associated with occupying the shelters, led
to a large reduction in occupation, so large that the number of
occupants on the night of December 2nd was only some 2,200;
some 5,263 were occupying Anderson shelters and 171 others
including surface shelters, the total number of persons occupying
public and other shelters on this night being 7,651. In the meantime
energetic steps had been taken to lessen some of the
unsatisfactory features. The problem of combating dampness in
underground structures in the soil of this district proves very
difficult of solution. Satisfactory lighting was a real contribution
towards improving conditions. In that regard those trenches in
which the walls were colour-washed in some light tint struck a
much more pleasing tone which helped to dissipate gloom.
Heating of the shelters presented another problem. Apart from
the necessity of avoiding pollution of the atmosphere by products
of combustion care was necessary to prevent over-heating. While
the sparsely occupied surface shelter might be given some form
of heating in the latter part of the day, it is probably safer to
avoid at any time heating those which are liable to crowding.
Though steps can be taken to minimise discomfort and reduce
the more flagrant offences to the senses, and while the provision
of water and the improvement in the sanitary conveniences might
lead to a reduction in the risk of spread of the alimentary infections,
the real risk of the spread of air-borne infections remains. Of
such palliative measures as the wearing of masks, the spraying
of the atmosphere with disinfectants, or even the destruction ot