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61
DISINFECTION.
Bedding, clothing, etc., are disinfected at the Council's Disinfecting Station at Wood Lane by
exposure to steam under a pressure varying between 15 and 20 lbs. above atmospheric
pressure for fifteen minutes. Soiled linen is disinfected by boiling under a pressure of 10 lbs. above
atmospheric pressure for ten minutes in a rotary washing machine. A formalin cupboard is used
for the disinfection by formalin of leather, furs and other articles which cannot be exposed to high
temperatures.
Rooms vacated by persons suffering from infectious disease are disinfected by gaseous
formaldehyde, which is generated by the volatilisation of paraform tablets, 20 tablets being used
for each 1,000 cubic feet of room space. Verminous rooms are disinfected by the burning of 8 lbs.
of sulphur for each 1,000 cubic feet.

* This table does not include the work carried out at Wood Lane on behalf of the
Paddington Borough Council.
The total weight of the bedding, clothing, &c., of Kensington residents disinfected was 36 tons,
13 cwts., 2 qrs. and 14 lbs. The number of articles disinfected was 14J926 and the number
disinfected and washed, 880.
The laundry work for the Medicinal Baths is performed at the Disinfecting Station and this
work involved in 1924 the washing of 12,916 towels, 499 sheets and 44 dressing gowns and blankets.
From January, 1923, to March 31st, 1924, the steam disinfection of clothing, bedding and
other articles required in connection with infectious disease in Paddington was carried out on
behalf of the Council of that Borough at the Kensington Borough Council's Wood Lane Disinfecting
Station at a charge of 15s. 0d. per cwt. of articles disinfected. The total weight of
Paddington articles dealt with during January, February and March of 1924 was 5 tons, 4 cwts.,
3 qrs., 15 lbs., and the Kensington Council received £78 13s. 2d. in respect of this work.
The Paddington Authority, having found that the work carried out by. the Kensington
Authority was satisfactory, entered into an agreement with the Council for the disinfection of all
articles removed from Paddington homes to be performed at the Kensington Disinfecting Station
for a period of twelve months commencing on April 1st, 1924, this period to be continued from time
to time as may be agreed upon. As the Paddington Council require certain of the articles to be
washed after disinfection, the charge was fixed at 20s. 0d. per cwt. of articles dealt with, but there
is a proviso in the agreement that the minimum payment per annum is to be £700.
The weight of articles dealt with from April 1st, to December 31st, 1924, under this new
agreement amounted to 15 tons, 3 cwts., 1 qr., 12 lbs.
The Paddington Authority are responsible for the Collection and removal of the articles to the
Council's Wood Lane Station, and for the subsequent return of these articles to the homes in
Paddington, the Kensington Authority merely carrying out the disinfection at the Station.
DISINFECTION OF LIBRARY BOOKS.
In view of the difficulty of securing efficient disinfection of books, the Libraries Committee
authorise the Medical Officer of Health to destroy all Public Library volumes removed from
infected houses; this gives Kensington borrowers protection from infection from the Council's'
books.
Books from private subscribing libraries found in infected houses are dealt with as follows :
(a) Books which have not been exposed to infection. —Disinfected by formalin vapour and returned
to the subscriber.
(b) Books which are believed to be infected. —A notification is sent to the Librarian. The
holder is informed that the books will not be accepted at the Library and that they can
be disinfected by formalin or destroyed at his option ; he is advised that destruction is
the only really safe method of dealing with the books but that this will only be carried
out on the understanding that the Council will not pay compensation.