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67
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.
A general summary of the work of the District Inspectors in relation to nuisances, &c., of
the ordinary type will be found in Table 42. A second summary will be found in Appendix A,
Table IX.
Prevention of Infectious Disease.—The number of visits required in connection
with infectious diseases shows no signs of reduction, the visits having increased from 6,325 in
1909 to 7,279 in 1910 and 7,332 last year. There has, however, been a decrease in the number
of inquiries (made by the District Inspectors) after notified diseases. The visits numbered
3,010 in 1909, but decreased to 2,098 in 1910 and 1,812 in 1911. The work of the Women
Inspectors—mostly with reference to illnesses among school children reported by the staffs of
the public elementary schools—has notably increased, their visits having risen from 3,315 in
1909 to 5,181 in 1910 and 5,520 last year. Below are some of the figures relating to this part
of the work of the Women Inspectors.
1909. 1910. 1911. 1909. 1910. 1911.
Measles 1,005 3,051 1,846 Chickenpox
285 461 545
Whooping Cough 479 430 793 Diarrhoea 546 410 1,369
Consumption 991 807 959 Puerperal Fever 9 22 8
The distribution of their work throughout the year is shown by the following statement of
the quarterly totals of visits.
Quarters. 1. 2. 3. 4.
1909 1,539 1,905 1,488 1,393
1910 1,878 2,425 1,493 1,483
1911 2,028 1,863 2,133 1,308
There is practically no slack time at any part of the year, and the present staff (two
women) is not sufficient to meet the increasing demands for departmental supervision. The
extended scope of notification of pulmonary tuberculosis will entail a very considerable increase
in the amount of visiting to be done. School work—visits with reference to reported illnesses—
is also steadily increasing. It is only by sacrificing less pressing work that the necessary visits
in connection with infectious disease have been accomplished.
The hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board are now open to cases of measles and
whooping cough under conditions which have already been detailed [see p. 31). Last year 72
cases of measles and 30 of whooping cough were admitted. The admissions of cases of notified
diseases numbered 435 last year, as compared with 797 in 1909 and 406 in 1910. The number
of patients treated at home (suffering from diseases for which hospital treatment is provided) was
24, as compared with 26 in 1910 and 41 in 1909.
Four (4) warning letters were sent to midwives and others after cases of puerperal fever, the
same number as in 1910. Only one letter was issued in 1909.
disinfection.—This is effected by the spraying of rooms by the staff of the Department,
a solution of formaldehyde being used. Last ^ear 2,857 rooms were so treated, the numbers for
1910 and 1909 having been 2,941 and 2,351 respectively. Private disinfection was resorted to in
10 instances only (25 in 1910), the efficiency of the process being certified by the medical
attendants. The number of rooms disinfected after use by patients suffering from pulmonary
tuberculosis increased from 171 in 1910 to 226 last year.
The disinfection of bedding, &c., is performed by the contractors, Messrs. Armfield & Sons,
Ltd. The goods removed weighed 50½ tons last year, the cost of the work being £1,013, against
£1,067 in 1910 (58 tons) and £1,106 in 1909 (54¼ tons). That the work is done satisfactorily is
evidenced by the fact that only 13 complaints were received from the public during the year,
the complaints being of no real importance and readily remedied by the contractors. There
was no evidence of any want of efficiency in the processes used.