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129
Pariah of Wandsworth.
years, but during the present year these will be overtaken.
There is no doubt that this, our first line of defence, is the
most important work of the sanitary inspectors, as it is
truly preventive in its aim.
The number of notices, preliminary and statutory,
served during the year shows an increase compared with
last year, and it is satisfactory to note that many nuisances
have been abated without requiring service of a statutory
notice.
The number of houses and rooms disinfected after
infectious disease was respectively 376 and 424, an increase
of 182 and 196. Fumigation is carried out after every
case of notified infectious disease, with the exception of
typhoid fever, in which case only the bedding is disinfected
by steam, and erysipelas, when nothing is done, unless the
medical attendant, for particular reasons, advises disinfection.
The number of houses in which infectious disease
occurred after disinfection was eleven compared with three
in 1895. Taking into consideration the number of cases
notified, this result is satisfactory, and shows that disinfection
is efficiently carried out.
391 sets of bedding were disinfected by the contractor,
and I have again to report that this was carried out with
despatch and to my entire satisfaction. This also includes
articles of wearing apparel, carpets, curtains, &c., removed
from rooms in which infectious diseases had occurred.
Only 17 cases of overcrowding came under the notice
of the sanitary staff during the year, and these were all
remedied without the necessity of prosecution.
The number of drains relaid was 203, compared with
K