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them to the source of the vapours, namely, the kitchen after the cooking and mealtimes
w ere over. The taps being closed during cooking and meal times, and the
food being sterilised in the coppers, saved the majority of the inmates and residents
from attack.
The details of the inquiry were duly set out in full in the special report, which
concluded with the following:—
Recommendations.
The Governors of the Hospital have already decided to proceed with the
construction of an Isolated Infirmary, and to institute Probationary Wards.
The cisterns of the lumber room has been completely disconnected and only
requires to be removed.
The overflow from the twin-kitchen cistern has been satisfactorily altered.
Instructions have been given to clear out the grease trap daily.
It remains therefore—
1.—To radically alter the dangerous grease trap.
2.— To disconnect all waste pipes properly from the drains.
3.—To remove the sinks from the wards or dormitories.
4.—And lastly, I would recommend, as I have only been able to
examine thoroughly a small section of the drainage arrangements,
that a careful and thorough survey of the drainage, water supply,
and ventilation systems of the whole building be made, that complete
and correct plans of each, especially of the two former, be drawn
up and be kept for reference, and that some one be held permanently
responsible for periodically examining the systems, and for reporting
their condition and maintenance.
Scarlet Fever at the Orphan Working School.—At the end of the last week in August
two cases of scarlatina were certified from this Institution, and by the third week
in (September seven cases had been so certified. Realising the danger of such a
highly infectious disease in an Institution containing some 500 children, boys and
girls, I paid a visit to the School in order to examine the conditions and the
precautions taken. So soon as the disease was recognised the infected children were
immediately sent to the London Fever Hospital, the bedding was rubbed with
carbolic acid, and the linen washed, I advised that the bedding should be disinfected
at the Vestry's Steam Chamber, and all the linen be well boiled, but expressed
doubts whether in large dormitories with a great number of beds disinfecting the
bed of the patient and the adjoining beds would suffice to stay the infection and
impressed the neccessity for taking every precaution. By the end of the first week
in October the number of cases had increased to sixteen, and I paid a second visit
t,o the Institution, pointing out to the matron the serious danger, as the points of
infection were multiplying, and it was not confined to one dormitory. I also visited
the Infirmary, which is situated at the top of the building, certain rooms in which
are set apart for isolating doubtful feverish cases. The same day I wrote the Secretary
urging that more radical measures should be taken by closing either a part of the School
according to the incidence of the disease, or if necessary the whole, and thoroughly
cleansing, washing, and disinfecting the building and its contents. At the same
time pointing out that probably the disease was introduced by a new scholar, and
the future necessity for requiring certificates from new scholars, that they have