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In previous reports an opinion was expressed that the expenditure on disinfection might
probably be reduced, were the work done without the intervention of a contractor, as recommended
by the London County Council and the Metropolitan Asylums Board; this opinion is likely, ere long,
to be subjected to the test of experience, the Council having decided to erect a station at their
depot at Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush.
TEMPORARY SHELTER OR HOUSE ACCOMMODATION.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891 (section 60, sub-section 4), imposes on the sanitary
authority the duty of making provision for housing poor persons during the time necessary for
disinfection of rooms after infectious disease. The sub-section is to the following effect:—
" The sanitary authority shall provide, free of charge, temporary shelter or house accommodation,
with any necessary attendants, for the members of any family in which any dangerous
infectious disease has appeared, and who have been compelled to leave their dwellings for
the purpose of enabling such dwellings to be disinfected by the sanitary authority."
The need for this provision is shown by the fact that in this Borough last year, 116 cases of
infectious disease occurred in families in occupation of three rooms ; 198 cases in families occupying
two rooms, and 61 cases in families herded in single rooms. Of the sufferers in families occupying
single rooms, 20 had scarlet fever, 18 each had diphtheria and small-pox, and 5 had typhoid fever.
The subjoined table was prepared for the information of the Public Health Committee when
considering the question of providing a shelter, which still awaits settlement.