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34
A circular letter was sent to all the Medical Practitioners requesting
them to be good enough when notifying cases of small-pox to
write upon the notification condition as to vaccination. Practitioners
were at the same time informed that they could after visiting cases
of small-pox, in order to prevent the spread of disease, have their
clothes disinfected at the Council's steam disinfecting apparatus.
As it is well known that small-pox is spread by tramps the Committee
asked the Guardians to have examined upon admission and
discharge all the casuals at the wards in St. Leonard's Street.
On the 22nd November I reported to the Committee that:—
"During the stripping and limewhiting of infected rooms the
"inmates of infected premises have been put to an immense
"amount of inconvenience."
"I would point out that there is no 'shelter' in this Borough.
"There is no question that the existence of a 'shelter' during
"the present epidemic would greatly help to prevent the spread of
"the disease, as people could be properly housed while their
"rooms are being disinfected, and at the same time all their
"clothing could be disinfected (more especially the clothing
"which they wear, and no doubt has been in contact with the
"patient), for if they are in a shelter, they can have baths, and
"while they are being bathed, the clothes which they have been
"wearing can be disinfected."
"The section referred to is section 60 (1.) (4)."
"The Sanitary Authority shall provide, free of charge, temporary
"shelter or house accommodation, with any necessary attendants,
"for the members of any family in which any dangerous infectious
"disease has appeared, who have been compelled to leave their
"dwellings, for the purpose of enabling such dwellings to be dis"infected
by the Sanitary Authority."