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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 2 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 30 tons,
12 cwts. and 23 lbs. The number of articles disinfected was 11,480 and the number disinfected
and washed, 745. In addition, the laundry work for the Medicinal Baths was performed at the
Disinfecting Station; the number of articles washed was: Towels, 10,108; Sheets, 501; and
Dressing Gowns and Blankets, 86.
The disinfection of clothing, bedding, and other articles required in connection with infectious
disease in Paddington has been carried out in the past on behalf of the Council of that Borough by
a private firm of contractors. Early in 1923, the Paddington Medical Officer of Health found the
contractor's machinery to be defective, and required certain improvements and repairs to be carried
out. At the same time the Paddington Medical Officer interviewed me to ascertain whether the
Kensington Borough Council could undertake to carry out disinfection of articles of clothing, etc.,
at the Council's Wood Lane Disinfecting Station during the carrying out of the necessary
improvements and repairs by the Paddington contractors.
I indicated that it was possible for the Kensington Authority to perform this work and having
agreed upon the necessary arrangements with my colleague, to which the approval of the Public
Health Committee and Council was given, the disinfection of Paddington articles at the Council's
Wood Lane Disinfecting Station commenced in January, 1923, and continued throughout the
whole year.
The total weight of Paddington articles dealt with at Wood Lane during the year was 18 tons
17 cwt. 2 qrs. 15 lbs. and the Kensington Borough Council received £283 4s. 4d. in respect of this
work.
This amount represents a charge at the rate of 15s. per cwt. of articles disinfected, a sum
agreed upon between the Paddington Medical Officer of Health and myself and approved by the
Public Health and Finance Committees of both Authorities.
The Paddington Authority have been 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.
The Paddington Authority, having decided not to enter into a further contract with the private
firm which had hitherto carried out their work and having found that the work carried out by the
Kensington Authority has been satisfactory, have now entered into an agreement with the Council for
the disinfection of all articles removed from Paddington homes to be performed at the Kensington
Station for a period of twelve months commencing 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 is to be 20s. per cwt. of articles dealt with, but there is a proviso in the agreement that the
minimum payment per annum shall be £700.
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 complete protection from infection from the
Council's books.