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work as that of disinfecting large quantities of clothes and articles
taken from houses in which infectious disease had broken out, should
be performed by contractors, over whom the Vestry had little or no
control, and in a machine that by no means met the requirements of
modern sanitation. The process employed by the contractors was that
of disinfection by means of hot air.
Since it was found possible to utilise steam under pressure for the
purposes of disinfection it has been generally adopted, as being the best
means whereby thorough disinfection can be assured.
When the Public Health Committee entertained the idea of
erecting Disinfecting Chambers they unanimously came to the
conclusion, after viewing the machines of several makers, to adopt
those made by Messrs. Goddard, Massey & Warner, of Nottingham.
In the scheme that was adopted for the Disinfecting Station
provision was made for the erection of two of that firm's steam disinfectors.
It may be that for ordinary purposes the work could be done
by a single apparatus, but it was felt that at times, as during the recent
epidemic of Scarlet Fever, two machines would be required to disinfect
the large quantities of bedding and clothing that had been infected.*
It was also felt that with one disinfector if any break-down should occur,
that then the Parish work would be greatly incommoded by having
again to resort to a private contractor, with all its attendant difficulties
and inconveniences.
Inasmuch as the cost of an extra machine was only a matter of
£240, without the buildings, the Public Health Committee recommended
the erection of the second disinfector without hesitation, and I am glad
to say the Vestry unanimously adopted their suggestion.
The Disinfecting Station consists of two disinfecting chambers, a
laundry, an office, two shelters for the vans which are to convey the
infected and disinfected clothes respectively, and a crematory for
destroying infected bedding, &c.
The addition of a laundry to a Disinfecting Station, if not
absolutely a new departure, is certainly one that has hitherto not
* Since the above paragraph was written it has been found necessary on several
occasions to use the two disinfectors.