View report page

76
been generally adopted elsewhere. I felt no difficulty in advising
the Vestry to erect this portion of the Disinfecting Station, because
in the past when I had been Medical Officer of Health to the County
Borough of Sunderland I had very frequently seen articles, bedding
especially, brought for disinfection, in a state of filth that was very
obnoxious.
And I was also aware that in several instances after they had
been returned home and when fresh disease had broken out in the
house their uncleanliness had been put down as the cause of the
fresh outbreak, although, as a matter of fact, having been thoroughly
disinfected by steam, they were quite free from infection.
In a modern steam disinfecting apparatus, properly managed, such
articles could not have contained any living germs.
It was, however, most unsatisfactory from several points of view,
that such an impression should have prevailed.
In Islington, in the future, clothing, bedding and other articles,
that have been soiled, will not be returned to the owners' homes before
they have been thoroughly cleansed at the hands of a careful laundress.
I believe that this Station, when it is shortly opened,* will be found
to be the best of its kind, not only in London, but in the United
Kingdom, and I foresee it will prove a very great boon to the community
and for ever prevent any suspicion being attached to clothing which
had been disinfected, as being the cause of a new outbreak.
PUBLIC DISINFECTION.
Street Watering and Disinfectants.—The mixing of Carbolic
Acid with the water used in street watering was continued during
the summer months, with satisfaction to the Public Health Department.
Courts, Lanes, and Street Channels.—Carbolic Acid Disinfecting
Powder was applied during the hottest portions of the year to these
places, and also to the channels in some of the dirtiest parts of the district.
* The Station is now open, and doing a very large amount of work at a decreased cost
to the ratepayers.