View report page

fi6
Thirty-nine notifications of mumps (28 being in November at one
school), 49 of chicken-pox, 101 German measles, 10 of ringworm, and
four of ophthalmia were received during the year.
Copies of 570 certificates relating to the various notifiable
diseases were sent to school teachers during 1901.
Disinfection.
When the City was incorporated there were four disinfecting
stations and four temporary shelters. Considerable inconvenience
has been experienced in carrying on the work of disinfection under
such circumstances. Two of the shelters were discontinued, and
a Sub-Committee of the Public Health Committee have had under
consideration the erection of a central station, and with this view
have visited three disinfecting stations recently erected in Hackney,
Battersea, and Fulham.
The following extract from a special Report made by me to this
Sub-Committee explains the present position :—
Disinfecting Stations.—All the work of the City in connection with
the disinfection of bedding, articles of clothing, &c., could be carried
out at one sufficiently equipped station.
About 40,000 articles have been disinfected annually at the
various stations, and during epidemic years that number has been
exceeded. The bulk of these articles have been dealt with at
Horseferry Road and Commercial Road stations—viz., 18,000 at the
former, 8,500 at the latter. The former, however, includes a large
number of articles (8,240 in the year 1900) from the Guards'
hospitals and quarters. It is evident, therefore, that a site for a
central disinfecting station should be selected in the southern part
of the City.
In view of the amalgamation of some of the districts now composing
the City, the late Strand Board, at my suggestion, asked
and were successful in securing the insertion of a clause in the
Improvements Bill of 1899, promoted by the London County Council,
which eventually became law, dealing with the depot, mortuary,
and disinfecting station in Denzell Street, the site of which is
required in connection with the new street. The section is as
follows:—
" 52. The following provisions shall have effect in respect of
the mortuary, disinfecting chamber, dwelling-house, and premises
situate in Denzell Street and Clare Street belonging to the
Board of Works for the Strand District (hereinafter called
' the Strand Board'):—