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94
Spraying and Cleansing Floors of London County Council
Schools with Electrolytic Disinfecting Fluid.
A total 3,494 gallons were supplied to six London County Council
Public Elementary Schools for spraying and cleansing floors of class
rooms.
Swimming Baths,* the use therein of the Electrolytic
Fluid.
The fluid continues to be added to the water in the swimming baths
in the same quantity and strength as mentioned in the Annual Report for
the year 1909, viz., 1 part of chlorine to 2,000,000 parts of water. 3237
gallons were supplied to the Poplar Baths, 3217 gallons to the Bow Baths
and 1,106 gallons to the Island Baths, making a total of 7,560 gallons.
The Bath Superintendents repeat their statements that the addition
of the fluid prevents the formation of slime in the water, the slime is not
found at the bottom of the baths when they are emptied, and there is no
offensive smell when the baths are being cleansed.
Comments on Adverse Criticisms.
It is somewhat amusing to learn that after the electrolytic process of
manufacturing hypochlorite of magnesium has stood a successful trial
of six years in the Borough of Poplar adverse criticisms have not ceased to
be made. The experience gained in Poplar, in the opinion of many
people, should have been sufficient for any ordinary intelligence, but it
has not been unknown in the world's history that new institutions,
processes, or discoveries, have sustained adverse criticisms largely founded
on vested interests. Quotations from various scientific workers in
laboratories are interesting enough, but broad common sense facts from
practical workings are far more to the purpose. Without doubt, when
the figures quoted in these comments are seen, pencil and paper will
be immediately seized and there will be worked out the cost of chlorine
manufactured in various ways to prove that the Poplar process is
extravagant; it is, however, much easier to work out figures on paper than
to carry on a producing process.
* See "The Pollution of Swimming Baths," by J. Graham Forbes, M.D.,
M.R.C.P., D.P.H., an up-to-date paper upon the serious matter of the evils and
dangers lurking in our swimming baths, read before the Medical Officers of Schools
Association, 22nd February, 1912. In a concluding paragraph Dr. Forbes states :—
"There can be no doubt, therefore, that the value and practical use of the electrolytic
method of disinfecting swimming baths shown in the Poplar district clearly demand its
general application to all swimming baths, including not only those under the control
of borough or district councils, but also those at our public schools." Dr. Graham
Forbes' paper is published by J. & A. Churchill, 7, Great Marlborough Street. Price
Is. net.