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the most important section of the community. Surveys of the catering
establishments of the hospitals in Ilford were undertaken at the request
of the management. Recommendations were made and these have been
well received and it is hoped that they will be implemented in the near
future.
The unfortunate accident which occurred in Bristol in 1951 when 12
people were killed and another 12 injured by an explosion of petrol
vapours in a garage was the subject of a public enquiry. The Report of
Sir L. R. Dunne. Q.C., issued in 1952 was carefully considered by the
Town Clerk and myself and a joint report submitted to the Council which
accepted the proposals submitted to amend the existing conditions under
which licences to store petroleum spirits and mixtures are to be issued.
These have not been implemented as yet; the opinion of the Home Office
is awaited.
The Rodent Control work has been proceeded with according to
approved methods and although there has not been a major infestation in
the district, an experimental scheme was instituted of offering live rats
to the Wellcome Laboratories. Euston Road, for examination by Dr.
Broom to ascertain the prevalence or otherwise of leptospirosis. Some 77
rats have been submitted under the scheme. Results indicate some measure
of infection among the rodents but to a similar extent as in the rest of
Greater London.
Administrative action under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, and
the various Orders made thereunder included the issue of licences for the
movement of pigs. There were no cases of swine fever or foot and mouth
disease in the district and only one confirmed case of Fowl Pest which
was not serious. A system of routine visits to all premises wherein animals
are kept was instituted during the year under review and conditions were
found to be good.
The widespread flooding of February, 1953, which caused serious
pollution problems in the flooded areas resulted in an appeal to unaffected
areas for assistance in preventing any serious ill health resulting
from the disaster. The Ilford Borough Council readily acceded to this
request and assistance was given by 5 Sanitary Inspectors for varying
periods, amounting in all to 34 days. Much useful work was carried out
by these officers a fact which was borne out by a letter sent to the Borough
Council by the Canvey Island Urban District Council expressing appreciation
of the services rendered. It is gratifying to know that no serious
calamity arose from this flooding from a public health point of view."
(i) Water Supply.—The district is served by the Metropolitan Water
Board and South Essex Waterworks Co., both maintaining a constant
supply. The subject of the water supply of the Borough was dealt with at
length in the Report for 1945.
The part of Ilford within the area of the Metropolitan Water Board
is supplied with water derived from the River Lee which, after passing
through the storage reservoirs at Walthamstow, is filtered and chlorinated
at Lee Bridge works and Ferry Lane works and then pumped into supply
Contact tanks are now in operation at these works in which the dose of
chlorine is able to exert its full effect before the water passes into the
distribution system. An additional amount of water is supplied to this
area from Wanstead Well.
Samples of the water in all stages of purification are analysed daily
at the laboratories of the Water Board.
Dr. E. Windle Taylor, Director of Water Examination of the Board
has kindly supplied me with the information that 1,462 samples of filtered
water were submitted to chemical and bacteriological examination and
found to be pure and wholesome. All new and repaired mains are
chlorinated before being restored to use and samples of water from them
are tested to confirm that the quality of the water is up to that normally
supplied. The water is not plumbo-solvent.