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that closure is sought in the majority of cases. Last
year, however, the system of inquiry already described
enabled action to be taken without waiting for the
school staff to seek closure.
The class rooms of many of the infected schools
were disinfected during the Easter Holidays by means
of formaldehyde spray.
Family Shelter.— In the house provided for
receiving families during the disinfection of their
homes, 84 individuals were accommodated during
the year, comprising 42 adults and 42 children, in
23 families, as compared with 144 individuals in 52
families received in 1897. The stay in each instance
ranged from one night to three days. The house has
occasionally 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.
Disinfection.— Messrs. Armfield & Sons, the
Contractors for the disinfection of bedding, &c., have
done their work satisfactorily. During the year a
total of £1,203 was paid for this work, as compared
with £1,109, £1,284, and £881, in 1897, 1896, and
1895 respectively. The proposed Disinfecting Station
will undoubtedly materially reduce the expenditure
for this work.