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45
matter, and I feel sure that their own Medical Officer (resident
at the Schools) would, in this respect, agree with me.
In this connection, it may be mentioned that the Guardians
have already provided themselves with an efficient "Equifex"
disinfecting machine (the same kind as the Council possesses
at Wanless Road) in connection with their Brook Street
premises, at my suggestion, which was endorsed by their
own Medical Officer, for similar reasons (amongst others) which
I am urging now in connection with the Norwood Schools.
Therefore, if the Guardians do not provide a separate disinfecting
machine at the Norwood Schools, they should, at
least, arrange to have such disinfection as may be necessary
for the Schools done in their Brook Street machine, rather
than that it should be done in the machine belonging to
the Borough Council at Wanless Road. It must, however,
be definitely understood that I do not recommend such a
course, but suggest again that a separate machine should
be provided by the Guardians at Norwood Schools.
Again, administratively, there is much against the Guardians'
request being acceded to by the Council, as during
times of epidemic, or on account of extra work involved
in dealing with the routine disinfecting work of the Borough,
it would be at times impossible to guarantee that the Guardians'
work could be expeditiously carried out. Thus, to
show what is meant, I may give actual facts of what has
recently occurred, though it may be that such an occasion
was exceptional1. On January 27th, 1905, I consented to
carry out some disinfection for the Norwood Schools, with
the result that the following articles, which, moreover, were
to be returned before 7 o'clock in the evening, had to be
dealt with: Beds 21, Mattresses 26, Pillows 72, Blankets
216, Quilts 72, Sheets 144, Articles of Clothing 70, and
Extras 41; making the large total of 662 separate articles
to be dealt with in one day for the Guardians.
The result was that the whole of the work of the Council's
Disinfecting Department was disorganised, and the routine
disinfecting work of the Borough had to be held over until
the bedding, clothes, etc., belonging to the Guardians had
been dealt with; more especially, as I gave instructions that
all articles received from the Guardians were to be kept absolutely
distinct, and away, from the ordinary articles that
were being dealt with that day in the routine way. An extra
van and attendants were required to be engaged so as to