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administrative work. 57
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
Table 41 contains the records of the work of the District Inspectors with reference
to nuisances.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—In connection with the cases of diseases of all
descriptions reported during the year, the Staff made 7,279 visits, as compared with 6,325 in
1909. The increase was entirely due to the excessive prevalence of measles, the visits in
connection with the notified diseases made by the male staff decreasing from 3,010 in 1909 to
2,098 last year, while those made by the Women Inspectors and Students increased from
3,315 to 5,181, the calls made by the latter with respect to each disease being as set
out below.
Measles 3,051 (1,005) Chicken-pox 461 (285) Whooping Cough 430 (479)
Diarrhcea 410 (546) Consumption 807 (991) Puerperal Fever 22 (9)
(Italic figures—records for 1909.)
The largest number of calls was made in the second quarter of the year, and the
smallest in the fourth. (See below).
Quarters 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
1910 1,878 2,425 1,493 1,483
1909 1,539 1,905 1,488 1,393
The number of patients removed to hospital for isolation and treatment fell from 797 in
1909 to 406 last year. The Hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board were opened to
cases of measles and whooping cough in December of last vear, but no cases were admitted
from the Borough before the beginning of this year. The "Letters of Advice" sent when
patients are treated at home decreased from 41 in 1909 to 26 last year. Four (4) warnings
were sent to midwives and others after notifications of cases of puerperal fever, as compared
with one in 1909,
Disinfection.—Disinfection of the rooms occupied by persons suffering from infectious
disease is effected bv the use of formaldehyde (spray), the work being done by the Staff of
the Department. Last year 2,941 rooms were so treated (including 171 after consumption),
as compared with 2,351 in 1909. After 25 other cases the work was done privately, the
efficiency of the processes adopted being certified by the medical attendants.
The disinfection and cleansing of bedding, personal clothing, etc., is still carried out,
under contract, by Messrs. Armfield & Sons, The goods removed last year weighed 58½, as
compared with 54¼ tons in the previous year, the cost of the work, however, decreasing from
£1,106 to £1,067. Some of the increase in this work, here recorded, is due to voluntary
requests for disinfection after illness (and death) not reported to the Department.
The Contractors continue to perform their work satisfactorily. Complaints are rare,
only 26 being received last year, the majority of which related to delay in returning the
goods, such delay having been due to the amount of stuff to be dealt with.
Water Supply.—The notices relating to the discontinuance of water supply to dwelling
houses numbered 74 last year, as compared with 84 in the preceding year, but there was an