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116
taken whenever it is found necessary. In these cases arrangements are
made by the Housing Officer with a specialist firm, who collect all furniture
except bedding that is to be moved to the new address; while in the
removal van, all the articles are subjected to treatment, the furniture
then being delivered at the new address. The bedding is collected as
early as is convenient on the morning of the day of the move, and after
being passed through the Corporation's plant at Honeypot Lane it is
delivered ready for use to the new address later the same day. No
treatments under these arrangements were carried out last year.
Occasionally from circumstances beyond the control of their owners
articles of bedding are infested with moths and similar insects. In
some instances householders are advised what action they may themselves
take to deal with their problem, in others the articles are removed
and dealt with by the local authority by passing them through the disinfecting
plant. For this service a charge is made unless the householder
is an old age pensioner or in receipt of public assistance.
Hydrogen cyanide has proved of great value in dealing with
verminous premises and articles. The Hydrogen Cyanide (Fumigation)
Act, 1937, was designed to regulate the fumigation of premises and
articles with cyanide. The 1938 Regulations specified the procedure to
be followed including the giving of notice by the operator to the local
authority before starting the work.
Of Persons. It is also necessary for the local authority to take
such steps as are necessary to free from vermin any person who makes
application to them that he is in need of cleansing. If this is found to be
necessary the cleansing must be undertaken at the expense of the local
authority. In 1951 arrangements were made with the Royal Borough ol
Kensington by which they would deal at their Cleansing Station with
any persons found in Harrow to be in need of cleansing. Whenever it is
necessary to use the facilities at Kensington, the person requiring treatment
is taken to the Cleansing Station in Corporation transport where
he and his clothing are dealt with. One case was dealt with during 1954
DIPHTHERIA
Incidence
Five persons suspected to be suffering from diphtheria were removed
to hospital. In none of the cases was the diagnosis confirmed. The
district has now been free from the disease for four consecutive years
There had been a number of years when very few cases had occurred,
but it was not until 1948 that it was possible to record a year with n°
notifications. Since the end of 1947 there have been two cases only,
one a nasal, the other a faucial infection.
It is common knowledge that throughout the country the incidence
of and fatality from diphtheria have fallen markedly in recent years, a
decline which has coincided with the increasing extent to which children
have been immunised against diphtheria. Although in some districts
facilities for protecting children have been available since the late nineteen
twenties, it was not until the national campaign started during the was
that the practice became general throughout the country. This was