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In the case of single-room tenements, the walls are sprayed with a solution of corrosive sublimate
(1-1,000) in order to save time, so that the room may be re-occupied by the tenant the same
night.
In cases of smallpox, fumigation with sulphur is practised twice, once before and again
after removal of bedding.
No charge is made for disinfection.
Householders always avail themselves of disinfection by the vestry, as far as articles are concerned.
As regards room disinfection, about 2 per cent. in cases of scarlet fever and diphtheria are
not done by the vestry, and rather more than this percentage in cases of erysipelas ; but in all these,
the medical officer of health receives a certificate from a medical man as to disinfection having been
carried out.
Temporary shelter.—The vestry have not yet provided one, but provision of rooms for this
purpose will be made in connection with the dust destructor scheme.
Chelsea.
(a) Articles of clothing and bedding.—The vestry have provided a steam disinfecting apparatus
(Washington Lyon pattern), at the depot in Lot's-road, Chelsea. The two chambers between which
the apparatus is placed, namely, the one for infected articles, and the one for disinfected articles, have
each a van shed adjoining, and the two sides of the building are approached by separate entrances,
the side for infected articles being entered by a gateway in Lot's-road, the side for disinfected articles
from the vestry's store depot.
The disinfection of articles is carried out by the sanitary inspectors, with the help of a disinfecting
assistant.
There is a bathroom provided with hot water at the disinfecting station.
There is no crematorium for the destruction of articles.
(b) Rooms.—The disinfection of rooms is effected by fumigation either by formalin or sulphurous
acid gas. The determination in each case as to which of the two methods shall be used appears
to depend partly on the size of the room, and partly upon the length of time conveniently available
for fumigation, formalin being used where the room is small, or where the use of the room is required
again as soon as possible.
Sulphur dioxide is used chiefly in the form of the gas in tins, but if the room be very large,
sulphur is burnt in an iron bowl, this method being more practicable owing to the number of tins
of sulphur dioxide which would be required. The room is generally left closed during one night, and
opened the next day by the vestry's disinfecting assistant.
If the room is dirty notice is served to cleanse, if not, nothing more than the fumigation is
done. It is not usual to give householders any instructions as to washing furniture and floors.
No charge is made for disinfection.
Temporary shelter.—No accommodation provided.
St. George, Hanover-square.
(a) Articles of clothing and bedding.—The vestry have provided a Goddard, Massey and Warner
steam disinfecting apparatus at their wharf in Commercial-road, Pimlico. The apparatus opens into
two rooms, namely, the chamber for infected and that for disinfected articles, and each of these has a
shed in connection with it in which is kept the van for conveying articles respectively to and from
premises. Articles are removed before disinfection of rooms is carried out.
There is also here a cremator for the destruction of bedding.
(b) Rooms.—For disinfecting rooms, fumigation with sulphur is practised, the room being kept
closed for eight hours. If the room is closed late in the day, it is not opened again till the following
day, unless it should be inconvenient to the tenant, in which case the disinfection is not commenced
until the next morning. After opening the room, instructions are given to the occupier to wash all
furniture, woodwork and floors with carbolic soap, which is supplied by the vestry if necessary.
In practice these instructions are always carried out; but if not, a notice would be served to
cleanse. If the room be dirty, notice is served to strip paper off walls and to cleanse.
No charge is made for disinfection.
For the most part, all disinfection is carried out by the sanitary authority; but in a small
number of cases the householder has it done by private arrangement.
Temporary shelter.—A room in the basement of the vestry's offices, at No. 1, Pimlico-road, has
been furnished as a day room for use of persons during disinfection of their rooms. There is no
sleeping accommodation. There is a scullery and a small yard attached to this room.
Westminster.
(a) Articles of clothing and bedding.—The vestry have provided a disinfecting apparatus
(Washington Lyon) in which articles are disinfected by steam. Considerable use is made of it as all
disinfection for inhabitants of the barracks in the district is done by the sanitary authority. Articles
requiring destruction are sent to a small dust destructor belonging to the vestry. For conveying
articles to and from the disinfecting station two separate horse vans are provided. These are kept, the
one in the chamber in which the articles are received before being put into the disinfecting apparatus,
the other in the chamber in which the articles are removed after completion of the disinfecting process.
(b) Rooms.—After removal of bedding. rooms are closed by officers of the vestry and sulphur is
burnt, and when this process is completed. directions are given to the tenant to wash all furniture and
woodwork with carbolic soap and disinfecting fluid supplied by the sanitary authority. Notice is also
served in most cases to strip walls and whitewash, and in practice it is found that this is generally
complied with, but if not the vestry carry out the work, employing a builder for the purpose.