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70
THE MANUFACTURE AND SUPPLY OF
ELECTROLYTIC DISINFECTANT.
Balance Sheet and Stability of Fluid : Germicidal and
Antiseptic Peopeeties.
The plant has now been working satisfactorily for twelve months, and
is a complete success.
I am pleased to find the statement which was made when the introduction
of this enterprise was suggested, that " the health of the Borough
would suffer if such a disinfectant were introduced," has, happily, not
proved true, for the annual notification rate per 1,000 living in the Borough
was 6'2 against that of 7.5 for London for the year 1906. The death rate
of the Borough of Poplar being 17.5 per 1,000 living.
I am very conscious that the step initiated has proved itself overwhelmingly
satisfactory from every point of view, particularly that of the
public health of the district during the period for which the plant has been
at work, in spite of the unwarranted and unfair attacks made by the
unofficial press on a subject of which they could have no practical
knowledge. " It nearly always happens, truth, long unrecognised, ends
by overcoming the systematic resistance, the absurd prejudices and the
presumptuous incredulity of its opponents."
The successful issue of the scheme was greatly due to the very able
assistance and support afforded me by the members of the late Public
Health and Housing Committee in general, and particularly to Mr.
Councillor Thorne, J.P., the present Mayor of Poplar, and the Chairman
of the then Works Committee, Mr. Councillor A. G. Smith, the Chairman
of the then Public Health and Housing Committee, and John Bussey,
Esq., J.P., late Mayor of Poplar, and the Chairman of the then Electricity
Committee, who at considerable inconvenience to themselves accepted the
responsibility of representing the Council on a visit of inspection of plant
at Rolleville, near Havre, France, and what they observed on that
occasion assured them of a successful issue of the scheme, as proposed.
My best thanks are due to Mr. Bowden, the chief electrical engineer
(who also accompanied the representatives of the Council to Rolleville),
for the kindly words of cheer which he gave during the exceedingly trying
time when endeavours were being made to make the apparatus work
simply and automatically, and to render the fluid stable by simple means