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DISINFECTION.
Residents are advised on the best methods of disinfection to
adopt and where it is thought desirable they are assisted professionally.
In general the efficient use of soap and water in
cleansing the surroundings is adequate if coupled with the boiling
of personal linen, after it has been soaked in a disinfectant solution,
and the exposure to the sun of materials likely to be otherwise
damaged.
For the convenience of ratepayers, the Council has decided to
arrange disinfection even when this is not essential to the public
health, but in these cases the following charges are made:—
£1 per load of bedding, etc., 5s. for the first room and 2s. 6d.
for each additional room disinfected at the same time.

BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL
EXAMINATIONS.
Many preventive measures depend upon an early and correct
diagnosis which can only be made as a result of a bacteriological
examination. The co-operation of the Public Health Laboratory
at West Hill House, West Hill Road, Epsom, is often of paramount
importance and their increasing efficiency and willing assistance
is greatly appreciated.
During 1957 they examined and reported on the following
specimens:—
Milk, ice cream, and water samples 418
Food utensils 118
Nose and throat swabs 10
Food 6
Faeces 47
Sputum 8
(b) OTHER ILLNESSES.
It has previously been explained why so much space is devoted
in these reports to the infectious diseases, although their influence
on the public health has, fortunately, become of decreasing significance.
Further reasons are, that at local level no statistics are
available as to the prevalence of other forms of ill-health and,
until recent times, it has been thought that but few preventive
measures were practicable in relation to them.
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