View report page

5
PUBLIC AIR RAID SHELTERS.
During the autumn of the year, which was ine time of the intensive
air raid, public air raid shelters were inspected to ensure that as far as
practicable hygienic conditions prevailed, and, in order to minimise
the spread of infections, face-masks were obtained and distributed to
each public air raid shelter for use by occupants who coughed or
sneezed. A further precautionary measure adopted was the spraying
of the shelters with a disinfectant solution.
HOUSES LET IN LODGINGS.
As a result of the suspension of routine visiting no action was taken
in respcct of any premises so let, but it is anticipated that owing to
war conditions the number of premises in the Borough so occupied
will have considerably increased.
FISH FRYERS.
The Order made by the late Barnes Urban District Council declaring
the trade of fish-frying to be an "offensive trade" expired on the
30th September, 1940, by virtue of Section 107 of the Public Health
Act, 1936. An application by the Borough Council to the Ministry of
Health for the Order to be renewed was refused. The trade, however,
continues to be controlled by bye-laws.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, INFECTIOUS
DISEASES.
Particulars of the incidence and distribution of the cases of infectious
disease notified during the year 1940 are set out in Tables 22-25 in the
Appendix, in which the number of cases removed to hospital and the
number of deaths in the district from these diseases are also given.
It will be observed by reference thereto that the incidence of
infectious disease in the Borough during 1940 was in every case very
low, with the exception of cerebro-spinal fever, of which there were
five cases notified. This was a considerable increase on previous years.
Cerebro-spinal fever, however, is a disease which tends to become more
prevalent under war-time conditions, and no special significance
should be attached to the increased number of notifications.
DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION.
Owing to the declaration of war the Council's immunisation clinic
at Essex House Centre was temporarily suspended at the end of 1939.
Early in 1940 all outstanding applications were dealt with and the
necessary injections given, the children attending at the Public Health
Department offices for the purpose. In July the clinics re-commenced,
Essex House Centre being again available. The inoculations were
given by the Assistant Medical Officer of Health, and the clinics for
immunisation against diphtheria have continued ever since.