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decide doubtful cases of Diphtheria and Typhoid, and it would
also result in a great saving of expense to the Council in
detecting and preventing epidemics of the above-mentioned
diseases, and would prevent the unnecessary removal of any
person to the hospital. Every medical practitioner in the
borough has been supplied with necessary apparatus for
sending specimens for examination and many medical men
have availed themselves of the opportunity thus afforded to
them.
During the year ending December 31st, 1904, 77 examinations
were made of blood and membrane for Enteric Fever and
Diphtheria, with the result that 24 were positive and 53
negative:—
Enteric Fever. Diphtheria.
Positive 4 Positive 20
Negative 6 Negative 47
10 67
Total 77
at a cost of £16 13s. Bd.
DISINFECTION.
A steam disinfecting apparatus (Washington Lyons) is
provided at the Council's Yard, in which all articles of clothing
and bedding are disinfected. The building is divided into two
rooms, into each of which the apparatus has an opening. One
side is reserved for receiving articles about to undergo
disinfection, the other for removing them from the apparatus
after the process is completed.
There are two vans employed, one for use in collecting
infected articles, the other for returning them after disinfection
is completed. With very few exceptions all disinfection is
carried out by the staff of the Council, and no charge is ever
made.