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24
NOTIFICATION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
As notifications are frequently received of cases of infectious
diseases occurring in streets which are adjacent to the Parish, and
not belonging to it, a full list of the streets in the Parish is set out in
an appendix, for the benefit mainly of medical practitioners.
DISINFECTION.
The employment of formic aldehyde for the surface disinfection
of rooms continues to prove satisfactory. There is no reason to
believe that it has failed in its object in a single instance throughout
the year. There are no greater difficulties or inconveniences
attending its use than those which apply to the use of sulphurous
acid, and it possesses the great advantages that it is more certain
in its disinfectant action and does not injure any article of furniture
or ornamentation exposed to it.
There has been a large amount of disinfectant solution given
away during the year. This free distribution of disinfectant is of
high value as a means of preventing the spread of infectious illness,
and it is a necessary counter-move to check the use of the cheap
and useless disinfectants otherwise purchased by the poorer
parishioners.
HOSPITAL ISOLATION.
During the year we experienced little difficulty in getting
parishioners into the hospital with promptness, and in this respect
our experience was in pleasing contrast to that of the preceding
year.
It cannot be said, however, that year by year the problems
connected with the isolation of infectious disease get nearer solution,
for this is the fifth successive year during which the Board has
failed to meet all the demands made upon it. The population is
increasing rapidly, and with this increase the conditions which
facilitate the spread of infection are multiplying by reason of the
overcrowding which is everywhere increasing. As the public
become more educated in public health matters and the value of
preventive measures, it will demand some provision for isolating
measles, whooping cough and consumption. When small-pox
infection gains a foot-hold in our midst, as we know it may and