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83
Grammes of Chlorine
per litre.
Tested 26th Sept., 1907 4 297
18 months after date
of manufacture
„ 12th Dec., 1907 4.184
„ 29th Oct., 1908 3.785
2 years and 7 months
after being made
A Recent Bacteriological Report.
During the year 1908 cholera was very prevalent on some parts of
the European continent, and cholera contacts, and passengers from
cholera-infected parts arriving in this country, the agents for the
Borough Electrolytic Disinfectant Plant submitted samples of fluid
similar to that made in Poplar to Dr. Klein, the eminent bacteriologist to
the Local Government Board, for examination. The following is the
conclusion arrived at by Dr. Klein in his report on the result of his
examination:—One ounce of the fluid to 150 ounces of water (or one ounce
in nearly one gallon of water) will kill the cholera germ in 2½ minutes and
the electrolytic fluid in the same proportion will kill the germ of typhoid
fever. The germ of plague would be killed by a more largely diluted
solution, as its vitality is much less than that of cholera and typhoid
fever.
When such a cheap, reliable and simply produced disinfecting fluid
(which can be largely diluted before use) takes the place of more costly
disinfectants, it is obvious that a great financial saving must be the
inevitable result. The great monetary advantage* to the Borough since
*The Public Health Department has purchased no disinfectants for the past three
years. In the year 1905, previous to the installation of the plant, the Public Health
Department expended £31i 2s. 0d. for disinfectants and £168 7s. 7d. for bottles, corks,
labels and bags, and £313 12s. 2d. for wages with four depots open. Now with five
depots established (and practically unrestricted distribution as the inhabitants bring their
own utensils to be filled) the wages are £331 per annum. The bottles, labels and corks
cost during the year 1908 £42 is. 5d. The cost for Material and Electricity during the
year 1908 was £56 2s. 5d. for the manufacture of 28,280 gallons, so that for the sum of
£56 2s. 5d. during the year 1908 the Public Health Department was not only furnished
with disinfectants, but the Guardians were afforded an unlimited supply gratis to all
their institutions (saving over £200 per annum), and the Managers of the Sick
Asylums Blackwall and Devons Road were also supplied with an unlimited amount free.
The Public Baths in the Borough were also supplied gratis, but for the 11,770 gallons
supplied to the Works Department a charge of 1d. per gallon was made which amounted
to £49, the Public Health Department being credited with this amount, although no
actual monetary transaction took place. Nevertheless, this must also mean a saving to
the Borough.