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that all three have given evidence of temporary contamination.
In view of the fact, proved almost to demonstration by
Dr. Waldo in his recent Milroy Lectures before the Royal College
of Physicians, that summer diarrhoea, so fatal in urban districts,
is due to the distribution of germs through the air by dried and
powdered horse dung, I would venture to urge upon the Vestry
the advisability of watering the streets during the summer
months with a weak solution of permanganate of potash.
Some time ago I made an extensive series of experiments upon
the power of this disinfectant, from which it appeared that a
solution of the strength of one pound in 500 gallons of water
was capable of immediately destroying the germs in question,
or most of them. The cost of such an agent would be about
fivepence beyond the cost of plain water for the quantity
mentioned, and whilst the aggregate cost would no doubt be
considerable, there is reason to believe that the reduction in
infant mortality would go far to compensate it.
Finally, I would draw attention to the fact that during
the year two severe cases of blood poisoning have occurred
among the men employed in emptying the sanitary dust bins.
It would be a simple and not at all an expensive matter to
supply them with a disinfectant, such, for example, as a
solution of Jeyes' Fluid, in the proportion of one tablespoonful
to a quart, in which they might dip their hands from time to
time. The whole cost would, at any rate, be less than that
which has been incurred in paying the wages of these men
during their protracted illnesses.
EDWD. C. BOUSFIELD.
Illustrations.
Diphtheria Chart, showing number of (a) Notifications,
( b) Bacteriological Examinations, (c) Deaths, in each four-week
period during the year.
The thin continuous line shews the notifications.
The dotted line shews the examinations.