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A Boiler and Engine House.
The men to be employed on the " infected" side of the station cannot pass to the
"disinfected " side, and separate mess-room accommodation is provided for their use, with
lavatories, bath rooms, etc.
Apparatus and Machinery.—When the designs for the building were prepared, the same
were referred by the Council's Works Committee to the Public Health Committee, in order that
they might consider as to the machinery and apparatus to be installed therein.
The Public Health Committee thereupon drew up an abbreviated specification of the
machinery, etc., they desired, and Messrs. Manlove, Alliott & Co., Ltd., Nottingham, the makers
of the particular apparatus, were invited to submit complete drawings and specification with a
formal estimate for supplying and fixing the same. Their estimate amounted to £1,650, and
this was accepted by the Council.
Particulars as to the Disinfectors and Machinery, and of the Process of Disinfection.—The type
of Disinfector is that known as the " Alliott and Paton Pattern." The Disinfecting Chamber of
each of the two machines is 7 ft. long, 6 ft. high and 8 ft. 7 in. wide internally, and is fitted
with a steel framed door at each end.
The process consists of:—Firstly, extracting the air from the chamber and its contents;
secondly, replacing it with dry high pressure saturated steam ; lastly, after the goods have been
subjected to the action of the steam at 20 lbs. pressure for a sufficient period to destroy all
traces of organisms, the steam is allowed to escape and a second vacuum obtained, tbis being
broken in its turn by hot pure air so that when, subsequently, the goods are removed, they are
not only sterile but also dry and aired.
Some articles which are wholly or partially made with leather, fur or the like, naturally
cannot be subjected to steam without damage. These are disinfected in the same machine, but
are treated by Formalin vapour introduced through special appliances provided for the purpose.
Each Disinfector is fitted with Recording Pressure Gauge by means of which a diagram of
every operation is obtained, as a record, and as evidence of the exact treatment that the goods
have received.
Stained articles, if introduced forthwith into the ordinary Disinfector, would be removed,
after steaming, with the stains ineradicably fixed, or even intensified. A Rotary Sterilizer has
been fixed with the object of getting over this difficulty. Articles which are received stained, or
which for other reasons require to be washed as well as sterilised, will be placed in the sterilizer
and properly cleansed without handling of any sort. On removal from the Rotary Sterilizer the
washed articles can be taken into the Laundry and placed in a Hydro-Extractor, and afterwards
dried in a Drying Closet and finished in a Decoudun Ironer.
There is also an Airing Closet in which articles may be stored after disinfection. This is
conveniently placed alongside the standing place for the return van, and is warmed by means of
steam coils.
Two Vertical Boilers are provided as a precaution against stoppages.
Generally.—Two specially constructed vans have been purchased, one for the collection of
infected articles, and the other for delivering disinfected articles.
The following staff will be employed, in addition to the present Disinfecting Assistant, for
carrying out the disinfecting work :—
1.—A working foreman, who shall have had experience in engineering and stoking ; this
man will be called "Engineer in charge."
2.—A driver.
8.—A disinfector who shall assist in collecting infected articles and in delivering disinfected
articles.
It is contemplated that four cottages shall be erected at the Depot, to be rented by the men
engaged at the Disinfecting Station, so that the disinfecting staff may, at all times, be
immediately available in case of emergency.
A full account of the proceedings at the inauguration ceremony (which was largely attended;
Mayors of several Boroughs, members of the Council, many medical officers of health and
medical practitioners, etc., being present) was published in the issue of the Kensington News for
3rd August. The illustrations speak for themselves. The Station was brought into operation on
1st September, L906, and has worked satisfactorily. The subjoined table shows the number of
operations, etc., since that date until the end of the financial year 1906-7, a period of seven
months.