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afford an indication as to one of the causes contributing to this
result.
Enteric fever was more prevalent in 1893 than in 1892. As
regards Chelsea, the majority of cases occurring in the year contracted
the infection outside the parish—usually in the country—
and not within its boundaries.
DISINFECTION.
At the close of the year the gas disinfecting stove at the station
at Wharf No. 2, Lots-road, was replaced ty a Washington Lyon's
steam disinfecting apparatus. The process of disinfection by dry,
hot air in the gas stove was very tedious, and by no means reliable
in the case of bedding and bulky articles. In the new apparatus
the articles are disinfected by dry or super-heated steam at an
average pressure of 15 lbs. to the square inch (equivalent to a
temperature of 250°F.), and by means of an exhaust apparatus
which can create a partial vacuum in the chamber (5 inches of
mercury pressure), the penetration of the steam into the interiors of
articles placed in the chamber is rendered so rapid that the disinfection
of bedding and clothing can be effectually carried out within
the space of an hour. A hot-air injection apparatus is also used in
connection with the chamber. By this means the disinfected goods
are submitted to a current of dry, hot air, before being removed
from the chamber, so that there is no risk of their being returned
to the houses from which they came in a damp condition.
With this new apparatus it is possible to remove the bedding
and clothing for steam disinfection in all cases of small-pox, fever,
and diphtheria, and to return the goods promptly. With the old
gas apparatus this was not possible; and the clothing and bedding
were formerly only submitted to a nominal disinfection by being
sulphur fumigated in the closed rooms of the houses. The
advantage to the parish in the more complete destruction of
infection, which has now commenced, will be very great.
SPECIAL REPORTS.
During the past year I have had the honour to present special
reports on the under-mentioned subjects for the consideration of
the Vestry:—
January 24th.—The Adulteration of Cows' Milk; Discharge of Sewage
into the Thames at Chelsea.
February 7th. — Disinfection of Clothing and Bedding; Order under
Section 27 of the Factory and Workshop Act, 1891;
the Prevention of Small-pox; Discharge of Sewage
into the Thames.
March 7th.—Sloane-square Railway Station; Card of Precautions to be
taken in the event of Infectious Diseases.
May 16th.—Emerton's Yard, Church-street; Re Letter from the
Belgravia Dairy Company.
May 30th.—Court Theatre; Scarlet Fever Cases at Kensal Town;
Arnold and Stone's Wharf.