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34
This apparatus has, however, certain disadvantages. It is expensive
(about £250), and requires a regular high-pressure steam boiler, with a
skilled stoker to manage it; but its advantages and the rapidity of its action
more than counterbalance these disadvantages.
With regard to other London parishes: in order to make this report as
complete as possible, I have communicated with every Metropolitan
Medical Officer of Health, and have made enquiries as to the means of
disinfection in his parish. I have tabulated the answers : they are entered
upon the schedule which accompanies this report, and I cannot refrain
from taking this opportunity of publicly thanking those Medical Officers
who kindly supplied me with so much valuable information.
As will be seen, no less than thirty parishes are provided with proper
disinfecting apparatus, and five others contract with private firms at so
much per hundredweight for all goods disinfected; the price paid varies
from a pound to thirty shillings. Thirteen have Frazer's apparatus, but
nearly all seem to have improved or modified it; thus showing that they
were not satisfied with its performance as originally sent out. Four have
Leoni's, which is a gas oven, something like Ransome's, but without the
automatic arrangement.
Many parishes seem to disinfect all articles, and to burn nothing, except
at the owner's request, when of course no compensation is paid. Others
burn worthless articles, and sometimes compensate; others destroy, and
always compensate. Dr. Tripe, of Hackney, burns with the consent of the
owners, and, if they be poor, refers them to the Guardians for compensation.
Paddington, Strand, and Wimbledon, never burn anything, no matter how
bad, but pass the articles through the apparatus, and return to owner.
Dr. Barclay, of Chelsea, has Nelson's apparatus: he is not satisfied with
any he has yet seen. Dr. Iliff, of Newington, also has Nelson's : he complains
that it is difficult to avoid injuring the articles during disinfection
in this apparatus. Mr. Farr, of Lambeth, prefers Frazer's to the one
he has in use (name of maker not stated). Dr. Saunders (City of London)
has Leoni's, but recommends Ransome's as being superior. Mr. Corner,
of Poplar, has Frazer's apparatus. He considers that baths should be
provided for the disinfection of persons as well as bedding and clothes.
Sixteen parishes are unprovided with apparatus. Most of these use
sulphur fumigation; one uses carbolic acid and steam; another chlorine
gas. Mr. Skegg, of St. Martin's-in the-Fields, disinfects everything with
sulphur, and burns nothing. Most of the other parishes seem to destroy
worthless articles, and, if the owners are poor, to compensate them. None
of the Vestries, however, are anything like so liberal in this matter as
Bethnal Green.
Upon reviewing the whole of the evidence for and against, I am decidedly
in favour of an apparatus, and while we are getting one we may as well
have the best, and that is undoubtedly Lyon's.