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SHELTER.
I have again to report that no shelter has yet been provided for the use
of persons during the period necessary for the disinfection of their dwellings,
but hope that the Vestry will provide this at the same time as they put up
their disinfecting plant.
As, owing to the want of a shelter, it is not possible where persons inhabit
only one room, to disinfect the room by the usual process of fumigation
with Sulphurous Acid Gas, then washing with a solution of corrosive sublimate
and stripping the walls, the Vestry purchased an " Equifex Sprayer,"
by which a room can be sprayed with a solution of corrosive sublimate
without disturbing the occupiers, and this has been found useful in oneroomed
tenements, where there have been cases of infectious disease.
Water Supply.
This has been satisfactorily maintained throughout the year by both the
Companies, the Chelsea and West Middlesex, which supply the district, and
no complaints of deficient service were received. The Companies have
lowered the mains which were laid at an insufficient depth, and were frozen
during the severe winter of 1895.
QUALITY OF THE WATER.
No samples were taken by the Vestry for analysis.
Dr. Frankland's report on the Metropolitan Water Supply shows that
the Thames water distributed during 1896 was somewhat inferior to that
delivered during the previous year, but as showing how efficient is the
method of filtration practised by the Water Companies, Dr. Frankland
states that the amount of suspended matter in the efficiently filtered river
water supplied to the Metropolis, rarely, if ever, exceeds 0.002 grains in a
tumbler full, and, therefore, in order to imbibe a single grain it would be
necessary for the consumer to drink no less than 5,000 tumblers full of the
water.
Sewer Ventilation.
Many complaints have, as usual, been received of the offensive smells
arising from the manholes and surface ventilators.
The Vestry have, however, been dealing vigorously with the nuisance.
A survey of the parish has been made by the Surveyor in order to ascertain
the most suitable sites for the erection of ventilating shafts and the owners