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646
THE SHELTER.
The Shelter is a provision which enables those who are in
occupation of one or two rooms only, to obtain temporary accommodation
while those rooms are being disinfected after the occurrence
of infectious disease in one or more members of the family; it also
serves for the temporary isolation of an occasional individual who
has come in contact with dangerous infectious disease and who is
very likely to spread infection before removal to Hospital, if he
develops the disease.
In 1923 two small shelter flats were provided in a sufficiently
isolated position, and these now constitute quite a model provision
of its kind for a small population.
It is regrettable that there is a very general public prejudice
against entering such shelters, except in the circumstance of a grave
epidemic. There are many cases each year in which it would be
our duty to take action to compel the use of the Shelter if we
possessed the necessary legal powers.
THE DISINFECTING AND CLEANSING STATION.
During the year ending December 31, 1926, the following
disinfecting and cleansing work was performed at the station:—
Total number of textile articles disinfected 16,351
Total number of books from Public Library disinfected 90
Total number of verminous persons cleansed 1,295
All the verminous persons cleansed were children of school age,
with the exception of one adult.
In addition to the disinfection of rooms on account of the
notified infectious diseases, 119 were fumigated on accoiint of vermin,
38 were disinfected on account of Consumption, 14 on
account of Cancer, and 18 on account of Measles and Whooping
Cough, etc.
During the year the Borough Council continued its agreement
with the Education Department of the London Country Council to
bathe and cleanse verminous school children, and 1,295 of such
children were cleansed.