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105
tons 16 cwt., of bedding, &c., removed for steam disinfection
and purification.
In accordance with the provisions of the 60th
Section of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the
Vestry has provided temporary accommodation for
persons excluded from the use of their homes during
the processes of disinfection. The " Family Shelter"
has been opened since September, 1895, and has been
most useful. During 1896, 150 individuals were
accommodated, comprising 77 adults and 73 children,
in 43 families. The stay in each instance has ranged
from one night to five days. The house has on more
than one occasion been used to receive members of
families of patients without isolation, but for whom
hospital accommodation could not be immediately
obtained. The expenditure for the year has been very
trifling, under £50.
Messrs. Armfield, the Contractors for the disinfection
of bedding, &c., have done their work satisfactorily,
but there can be no doubt that the work ought
to be in the hands of the Vestry. During the year a
total of £1,284 was paid for this work, and the amount
tends to increase rather than decrease. If the
work were done by the Vestry the annual charge
would be approximately uniform, and well below the
average expenditure of the present system. There
would be the further advantage that the fact of a fixed
annual charge would be an inducement to a freer use of