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Committee's consideration of the matter," they came to the
conclusion, but upon what grounds I do not know, that "it is
not desirable that the Vestry should provide their own disinfecting
station in the Parish, but that the disinfecting and cleansing
of clothing, bedding, &c., should continue to be entrusted to
the present contractors." The Committee accordingly recommended
"that no variation be made in the arrangements at
present in force for the execution of this work." Their report
was adopted by your Vestry.
In January, a letter was received from the County Council
enquiring whether your Vestry had been able to adopt their
suggestion that they should provide a steam disinfector and
dispense with the employment of a contractor? No action was
taken in the matter.
TEMPORARY SHELTER OR HOUSE
ACCOMMODATION.
The Public Health (London) Act, 1891 (section 60, subsection
4) imposes on the Sanitary Authority the duty of
making provision for housing poor persons turned out of their
homes during the time necessary for disinfection after infectious
disease. The sub section is to the following effect:—
"The Sanitary Authority shall provide, free of charge, temporary shelter
or house accommodation, with any necessary attendants, for the members
of any family in which any dangerous infectious disease has appeared,
and who have been compelled to leave their dwellings for the purpose
of enabling such dwellings to be disinfected by the Sanitary Authority."
Several of the Sanitary Authorities in the Metropolis have
failed, so far, to perform this duty. The need for such provision
is sufficiently indicated by the fact that in this parish,
in 1897, 195 cases of infectious disease occurred in families
in occupationof three rooms only; 372 cases infamilies occupying
two rooms, and 98 cases in families herded in single rooms. Of
the sufferers in families living in single rooms, 60 had scarlet