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30
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
Disinfection.
During the year the efficiency of the disinfection carried out by your Sanitary
Authority has been greatly increased. A house has been specially erected for the
purpose in the stoneyard; it is provided with a room for infected goods, which
are then passed through the disinfecting apparatus and taken out in another or
disinfected room. Two hand-carts are also provided, one of them for the infected
and the other for the purified articles.
A new disinfector has replaced the old one, which was worked by hot air, and
erected so long ago as 1867. The pattern chosen by your Committee is the very
excellent one invented by Mr. Lyon. It may be described as a large iron cylinder tilled
with steam, which is super-heated by means of a steam jacket. It is further supplied
with a vacuum apparatus, by means of which the disinfection of such things as thick
mattresses is rendered certain and thorough.
The boiler is separated from the disinfector, and can therefore be readily cleansed
or renewed.
Your Sanitary Authority is still in want of a properly constructed incinerator, in
which to burn infected articles that require destruction.
In bringing this report to a conclusion I may congratulate your Vestry on the
steady progress that has been made in health matters in St. George's, Southwark.
There has been a marked fall in the death-rate, which has reached a lower point
than that recorded at any period during the last half century. At the same time the
sanitary staff has been strengthened by the addition of new inspectors, and the
disinfecting appliances have been brought up to a modern standard. It now remains
for me to thank all who during the past year have helped to advance the public
health work of this parish.
I have the honour to be,
Your obedient Servant,
F. J. WALDO,
1, Plowden Buildings, Temple, Medical Officer of Health.
March, 1895.