London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1897

Report upon the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Battersea...

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43
Steam
Disinfection.
On several occasions during the last few years the
Health Committee has considered as to the advisability
of carrying out steam disinfection without the intervention
of a contractor.
In November, 1895, a letter was received from the
Metropolitan Asylums Board, recommending that Sanitary
Authorities provide their own steam disinfectors, and have the
work carried out by their own officials.
The subject was at that time adjourned for three months,
when the Committee recommended the renewal of the contract.
In July last year the Committee again considered the matter
and a Sub-Committee consisting of Messrs. Chown, Whitehouse,
May, E. G. Marshall and Gurling were appointed, which SubCommittee
visited several of the Metropolitan Disinfecting
stations, but decided to again adjourn the matter until it could
be ascertained what steam would be permanently available for
the purpose of a steam disinfector, either in connection with the
Electric Lighting Works at the rear of the Town Hall or
elsewhere.
Closing of
Public
Elementary
Schools.
A memorandum, prepared in the Medical Department
of the Local Government Board on the circumstances
under which the closing of Public Elementary
Schools or the exclusion therefrom of particular children may be
required in order to prevent the spread of disease was issued
in July last.
This gives information derived from the reports of the
Board's own Medical Inspectors, and of local Medical Officers of
Health, respecting school closure and exclusion from schools as
precautions against infection, with a view to indicating the best
means of preventing the spread of disease by school children,
while avoiding any unnecessary interruption of the work of
education.