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192
DISINFECTION.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891, imposed additional
duties on the sanitary authority in the matter of disinfection,the
practical effect of the legislation of late years having
been to throw upon the rates the cost of disinfecting houses,
and the cleansing and disinfecting of bedding, clothing, &c.
The cost of this work has increased since the Act came into
operation at the beginning of 1892: the amount expended in
1899 was £729, as compared with £381 in 1891. In the
latter year the weight of the articles disinfected was under
twenty tons, and their number about 9,400 only; whereas in
1899, 19,985 articles were dealt with, of an aggregate weight
of 38 tons 3 cwt. Eight hundred and forty-nine rooms, in
747 houses, were disinfected after infectious disease by
your Vestry's staff, as compared with 364 in 1891.
In the report for 1893 (pp. 215-217), under the heading
"Duties of the Sanitary Authority with respect to Disinfection,"
I explained the state of the law, and described your
Vestry's practice in regard to the matter. The expenditure
on disinfection, including cleansing of clothing, bedding, &c.,
necessarily varies from year to year, in proportion to the relative
prevalence of infectious disease. Few disinfections are
now done at the cost of the occupiers of the houses, or owners
of clothing, bedding &c., dealt with. I append a statement
of the monthly cost of this work in 1899, which is irrespective
of the wages of the disinfector.
£ s. a
January 52 6 2
February 39 1 4
March 54 18 8
April 35 1 6
May 43 4 11
June 53 15 6
July 74 17 4
August 79 8 1
September 67 4 8
October 88 18 7
November 88 3 6
December 52 8 3