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73
has been opened since September, 1895, and has been
most useful. During 1897, 144 individuals were
accommodated, comprising 92 adults and 52 children,
in 52 families. The stay in each instance has ranged
from one night to three days. The house has on
more than one occasion been used to receive members
of families of patients needing isolation in hospital,
but for whom accommodation could not be immediately
obtained. The annual expenditure is very
trifling, under £50.
Messrs. Armfield, the Contractors for the disinfection
of bedding, &c., have done their work satisfactorily.
During the year a total of £1,109 was
paid for this work, as compared with £ 1,284 and
£881 in 1896 and 1895. It is hoped that the work
of erecting the new Disinfecting Station will be
almost complete, if not finished, before the end of the
current year.
The fumigation of rooms is still effected with
sulphur di-oxide gas, evolved from the combustion of
cake sulphur or (occasionally) of carbon bisulphide.
A report on the results of the process of disinfection,
will be found in Appendix B (page .99).
During the twelve months, £88 have been expended
on disinfectants—viz., £43 for sulphur and
carbon bisulphide, and £45 for soap, powder, &c., for
free distribution.
There is an increasing need of a reception-house
for the bodies of persons dying in small tenements,