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67
DISINFECTION.
The Finsbury Disinfecting Station is at 49, Northampton
Road, Clerkenwell. Here provision is made for the housing
and accommodation of families during the disinfection of their
premises after infectious disease, and for the reception of smallpox
contacts, and of suspected cases of smallpox during the
incubation period. The "shelter" was used on three occasions
only in 1923, by two families from Finsbury, and one family
from Holborn. The Holborn Metropolitan Borough is allowed
to use this shelter by an agreement made between the two
Boroughs, dated 4th October, 1911, and terminable at the pleasure
of either Council. The payment by the Holborn Borough Council
was increased from £10 per annum to £37 10s. per annum as
from 1st August, 1922. The disinfector is a Washington-Lyons
high-pressure steam apparatus. In 1923, 860 separate rooms
were disinfected, of which 118 were for measles, 44 after notification
of phthisis, 20 after deaths from phthisis, 2 after enteric
fever, 169 after scarlet fever, 328 after diphtheria, 25 after other
diseases, 135 on account of vermin, and 19 on request. In
addition, bedding and mattresses were steam disinfected for the
following institutions:—The Claremont Hall Creche, St. Barnabas
Home, and St. Mark's Hospital.
Altogether 11,473 articles were disinfected in connection with
cases of infectious disease and phthisis; these were chiefly mattresses,
pillows, bolsters, sheets, blankets, quilts, and wearing
apparel. Besides these, 315,643 articles of wearing apparel were
disinfected for City firms at the price agreed upon, prior to
exportation to South Africa.
The conversion in 1922 of the disinfecting apparatus from
the direct-fired type to a separately steamed apparatus, with
upright boiler, has proved to be very satisfactory.
The Ford ton chassis, fitted with two interchangeable bodies
for the conveyance of articles before and after disinfection, has
continued to be of great advantage in the speedy handling of
clothing and bedding.