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47
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK*
Prevention of Infectious Disease.— The calls made by the Staff with reference to all
kinds of infectious disease, numbered 5,734 last year, as compared with 4,388 in 1906, and
5,107 in 1905. The District Inspectors made 2,442 calls with reference to diseases formally
notified, as compared with 2,058 in the previous year, and the Women Inspectors and
Students, 3,292 calls with reference to diseases not on the schedule for notification. In 1906
the latter made 2,330 calls. Last year's total comprised calls relating to—
Measles 1,756 Chicken-pox 344 Whooping Cough 499
Diarrhoea 38 Consumption 635 Puerperal Fever 20

The total number of patients removed to hospital for isolation and treatment, was 694
last year, against 882 in 1906, and 387 in 1905. "Letters of Advice," covering extracts from
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, with memoranda
of precautions requisite to prevent the spread of infection, were sent out with reference to
55 patients who were treated at home, the number of such letters having been 67 in 1906, and
44 in 1905. In addition six (6) special communications were addressed to midwives and
others in charge of cases of puerperal fever, as compared with 8 in the preceding year, and 2
in 1905.
Disinfection.—The disinfection of rooms occupied by persons suffering with infectious
diseases is carried out bv the Department, bv the use of formaldehvde sprays. The rooms
dealt with during the year numbered 2,552, as compared with 2,166 in 1906, and 2,662 in
1905. In 16 instances the necessary disinfection was done privately, and the efficiency of the
processes employed duly certified by the attendant practitioners.
"Cartons" of chloride of lime and cakes of carbolic soap are distributed to a small extent
only, the popular use of disinfectants being held to be of little value, and not equal in efficiency
to ordinary domestic cleansing. The amount spent on disinfectants of all kinds, including
materials for spraying of rooms, was £16 10s. last year.
The disinfection of bedding, personal clothing, etc., is still carried out under contract by
M essrs. Armfield, who do the work thoroughlv well. The goods removed during the past
year weighed 48½ tons, as compared with 56 tons in 1906, and 67 in 1905. I he cost of the work
amounted to £1,087 last year, £1,148 in 1906, and £1,392 in 1905. Complaints of any
description are rare, onlv 11 of no importance being received during the past year. All
complaints were promptly remedied by the Contractors.
* Table 32 summarises the work of the District Inspectors not specially dealt with in the following paragraphs.
See also Table VIII., Appendix.