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WORK OK THE DEPARTMENT.
but is not regarded as a routine procedure in other diseases. Many rooms, passages, etc.,
were treated thus on verbal request of the Officers, and only 12 notices were issued to secure
the work being done. Section 60 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the Section under
which such notices are given, provides that when the owner neglects to do the required work
within 24 hours of the issue of the notice, the Council is to do the work. Arrangements have
been made for the Staff of the Works Department to act on requisition from the Public Health
Department, but it was not necessary to give effect to the arrangement last year. In certain
Boroughs permanent staffs of men are maintained who follow the disinfectors, and at once
strip walls, whiten ceilings and wash paint.
The contract with Messrs. Armfield for the disinfection and cleansing of bedding, etc.,
is still in force. Orders for disinfection of bedding, etc., were issued after 952 cases of
infectious illness, viz.:-
Small-pox 98 Erysipelas 4
Scarlet Fever 334 Chicken-pox 132
Diphtheria and Membranous Croup 200 Measles 73
Enteric Fever 59 "Consumption" 4
Puerperal Fever 17 Other Diseases 25
The weight of goods removed last year was 47 tons 7 cwt. 3 qrs., or 5 tons more than in
1901. The total cost was £968 12s. 10d., the cost in each of the preceding five years having
been:-
1901 £991 1898 £1,203
1900 856 1897 1,109
1899 947
A few complaints were received during the heaviest time of non-return of articles, but
they were all satisfactorily settled by the Contractors.
In May last, the Local Government Board wrote with reference to the occurrence of
small-pox among the Contractors' workmen and urged the Council to consider the advisability
of doing the work with their own staff and plant. A reply was sent expressing the
Council's satisfaction with the present system, and no further steps were taken. The matter
was, however, brought forward again in December last by the London County Council, and
now stands referred for report.
The expenditure on disinfectants amounted to £33 during 1902, the bulk of the cost being
for formaldehyde. In 1900 the expenditure was £76, and in 1901 £58. The use of disinfectants
in a popular manner is not encouraged by the Department, and very little is distributed.
Such use practically amounts to the homoeopathic treatment of offensive effluyia-the masking
of one smell by another. The best disinfectants are a liberal use of soap and water, plenty of
fresh air and as much sunlight as the climate allows. Indeed, did the public truly appreciate
the grand results to be obtained by cleanliness of homes and of air, the need of a Public Health
Department would soon disappear.
Family Shelter.-Under Sub-Sec. 4 of Sec. 60 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
the Council is required to provide a house for the reception of persons displaced during the
disinfection of their homes. A "shelter," containing 2 bedrooms, 1 sitting and 1 bath-room,
together with caretaker's rooms, has been maintained since September, 1895. The place was of
considerable utility during the earlier years while sulphur disinfection was practised, but with the
introduction of the formaldehyde spray the need of a shelter appears to have vanished. Last
year only five families (12 persons, 6 under 10) were admitted, as compared with 24 in 1901.
The figures for each complete year since the opening of the shelter are as below:-
1896 43 families 77 adults 73 children
1897 52 „ 92 „ 52
1898 23 „ 42 „ 42
1899 21 „ 42 „ 38
1900 15 „ 21 „ 24
1901 24 „ 42 „ 57
1902 5 „ 6 „ 6