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88
Committee also reported that they had appointed a Sub-Committee to
confer with the Medical Officer as to the use of the disinfectant in the
slipper baths
"When the baths are newly filled the Electrolytic Fluid should always be
"added during the filling, but the later additions should be governed by the
" number of bathers and the condition of the water."
No hard and fast rule is laid down respecting the later additions, each Bath
Superintendent must use his discretion. If there have not been many bathers and
the condition of the water remains good some days may elapse before the second
addition is necessary, and the same remarks apply to the third addition.
In practice these amounts were varied and for some months 40, 30 and '20 gallons
for the large baths and 20, '20 and 10 gallons for the small bath were substituted, but
whilst this report is being written the quantities have again been altered to 30, 20 and
20 gallons for the three large baths of over 80,000 gallons, 20, 20 and 20 gallons for the
large bath in Poplar holding 75,000 gallons and 10, 10 and 10 gallons to the small
Poplar bath, to see if these smaller additions would bring about beneficial results. The
fluid must be well mixed and evenly distributed in the bath water.
The strength of the fluid is now kep as near as possible at 2.5* grammes of chlorine
per litre. In the first trials and for some considerable time afterwards the strength of
the fluid was 4.2 to 4.5 grammes of chlorine per litre, but it was from time to time
reduced until it reached that mentioned above.
After a number of bathers have used the same water and polluted it a slight
chlorous odour is noticed in the atmosphere of the baths (instead of the usual sickening
"body smell"), due to the Electrolytic Fluid working upon the organic matter- oxidisation
is taking place and chlorine compounds, most powerful germicides and deodorants
are being given off. So long as this slight chlorous smell*—which might be really termed
the "indicator"—is noticed, the Electrolytic Fluid is active, oxidising the organic
matter, and either killing the germs or inhibiting their growth. It is obvious that
swimming bath water which has had Electrolytic Fluid added to it previous to being
used and has given off a chlorous odour after a number of bathers (say 1,500, for this
number of persons may use the same water in the large baths of the district) have
polluted the water and ceases to give off this faint chlorous odour, either more
Electrolytic Fluid should be added or the water should be discharged into the sewers.
For reasons which need not be entered into the latter course should be adopted.
Ventilation is a most important item in maintaining the hygiene of a swimming
bath. It is necessary in a confined building to have good constant ventilation to
remove the sickening "body smell" due to a number of human beings undergoing
exercise. Efficient ventilation is not only essential for health but will help to preserve
the water. As already staled on page 83 it is noticed by the Attendants that it very
soon gives off bad odours after a number of bathers have used it. When a solution of
Electrolytic Fluid is used for washing out the dressing boxes and cleansing the bath
generally, the "body smell" is not so much noticed, but good ventilation is necessary
so that the faint chlorous smell may be carried away. The bath should not only be
well ventilated during the day but as much as possible throughout the night, for
when a large body of polluted water has had added to it Electrolytic Fluid faint
vapour will rise due to the process of oxidisation going on in the water.

* Sufficient to give about 1 part available chlorine to 2 millions of water,
† A well-known analyst states that this chlorous smell is due to chlorine
compounds acting upon organic matter—saliva, perspiration, filth, etc.