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26
DISINFECTION.
Doubtless disinfection is demanded too early on many occasions
to be safe, and where the certificate of the Medical Attendant is
produced that, in his opinion, disinfection may be carried out, we
have, of course, no option but to comply. Thus, during the past
year we disinfected at two different premises only 14 days after a
case of diphtheria was notified, and in five other cases after only
about three weeks had elapsed from the onset of symptoms. It isextremely
rare that a case of Scarlet Fever, nursed at home, is free
from every trace of the complaint in less than from 6 to 7 weeks,
yet we were asked to disinfect 6 different premises at about a month
from the onset of symptoms, and 10 more at only 5 weeks'
interval.
HOSPITAL ISOLATION.
On more than one occasion during the year the hospital
accommodation for infectious cases proved insufficient for the needs
of the Metropolis, and it was impossible to get patients isolated with
anything approaching the dispatch which is essential. More
especially was it in the autumn of the year that the dearth of
accommodation was severely felt by this Parish. In one case over
15 unsuccessful applications were made to the Central Offices of the
Metropolitan Asylums Board. The remedy for this state of things
is an expensive one, but it will have to be applied; it entails the
making of such an amount of provision to meet the calls of an
exceptional temporary prevalence of infectious disease that a
considerable number of the beds provided will lie empty during the
greater part of the year.
The Board has now the means of accommodating about 6,000
patients suffering from Diphtheria, Scarlet Fever, and Typhoid Fever,
irrespective of about 750 beds at Gore Farm, generally available in
the absence of Small-pox. For Small-pox patients the accommodation
is, or will be, to the extent of nearly 1,900 beds.