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St. Luke.
(a) Articles of clothing and bedding.—The vestry have provided a steam disinfecting apparatus
in conjunction with the mortuary and coroner's court premises in Warwick-place, Whitecross-street.
The apparatus is that known as the "Thresh" disinfecting apparatus. The building in which it is
erected has two separate chambers, into each of which the apparatus has an opening. One chamber is
reserved for infected articles, the other for removing the articles from the apparatus after the process
of disinfection is completed. There are two hand trucks for conveying articles to and from houses.
These are kept in the covered way leading to the mortuary. The mortuary keeper carries out the
work required in disinfecting articles in the apparatus.
(b) Rooms.—These are fumigated by burning sulphur in them before any articles are removed
for steam disinfection. The room is kept closed at least six hours. The ordinary routine is as follows.
A notification certificate having been received in the morning, arrangements are made for removal of
the patient to hospital. If this is done by mid-day the room is at once closed and fumigation commenced
; late the same evening (about 8 or 9 o'clock), the vestry's disinfecting assistant goes and
opens the room and removes the articles of bedding and clothing to the disinfecting apparatus. If,
however, there has been delay in getting the patient removed, or if the room is not required by the
tenants, it is kept closed all night and opened on the following day. If the case be treated at home
during the course of the illness, the room is generally kept closed throughout the night time. In cases
of scarlet fever, diphtheria, small-pox and cholera, or if there is more than one paper on the wall, notice
to strip and cleanse is served, and if not complied with, the sanitary authority carry out the work, and
for this purpose they have an annual contract with a builder.
No charge is ever made for disinfection.
It is quite an exceptional occurrence to receive a certificate from medical practitioners as to
disinfection having been carried out satisfactorily, practically all disinfection in the district is done by
the authority.
Temporary shelter.—A house for the use of persons during the disinfection of their rooms has
recently been taken at 41, Macclesfield-street. It is under the charge of a resident caretaker and his
wife. The caretaker also acts as disinfecting and general assistant in the public health department.
Two rooms on the first floor have been partially furnished, one as sleeping room with a double bedstead,
washstand and washing basin, the other as a sitting room. There is no crockery nor have adequate
cooking utensils yet been provided. There is no bath-room. Persons using the temporary shelter
have the use of the scullery in the basement. There is one watercloset in the back-yard. Rooms on
the top floor are not yet furnished.
The City of London.
(a) Articles of bedding and clothing.—A steam disinfecting apparatus (Washington-Lyon) has
been provided by the sanitary authority in a special building at premises which include the mortuary
and the City laboratory in Golden-lane. The building contains two rooms, into each of which the
apparatus has an opening, the articles being put in at one end and removed from the apparatus after
the process is complete, at the other.
A hand truck is provided for conveying articles to and from houses. This truck is fumigated
by burning sulphur after infected articles are removed from it.
There is at these premises a cremator, in which articles can be destroyed if necessary.
(b) Rooms.—The disinfection of rooms is effected by means of sulphur dioxide gas, tins containing
the gas in a compressed form being used for the purpose. Rooms are kept closed for four or five
hours. Notice is then served to cleanse and limewhite.
No charge is made for disinfection.
Practically all the disinfection after occurrence of infectious disease is carried out by the
sanitary authority.
Temporary shelter.—Accommodation for the use of persons who are deprived temporarily of
their rooms during the process of disinfection has been provided at No. 6, Cotton-street, Aldersgatestreet.
The premises are in charge of a female caretaker. The ground floor is used temporarily as
offices for the sanitary inspectors, and the first floor is reserved for the caretaker. The second, third,
and top floors form the shelter. The second and third floors have been divided by wooden partitions
into cubicle rooms. There is bathroom, lavatory and washhouse accommodation, and adequate
crockery and cooking utensils are provided. Food is also provided for persons during their stay and
is cooked for them by the caretaker. The following account of the accommodation at the shelter ia
taken from the annual report of the medical officer of health for the year 1894—
"The basement contains two kitchens, one for the public and one for the caretaker, fitted
"with cooking range, dresser, cupboards, tables, benches, culinary utensils and other
"necessaries, &c. Also two water-closets, two baths, lavatories and washhouse.
"Ground floor.—Fitted up for use of six sanitary inspectors during the rebuilding of the
"new offices for the Commissioners of Sewers at Guildhall.
"First floor.—Sitting room and two bedrooms for caretaker, with large linen closets on
"landing, water-closet, &c.
"Second floor.—First room, bedroom for boys under 12 years. Second room, double bed
"for married couple. Third room, single beds for children. Fourth room, two single beds
"for girls under 12 years. Water-closet and lavatory on landing.
"Third floor.— First room, two single beds for adult females. Second room, two bed"steads
in reserve, and a large space left for further development if required. Water-closet
"for females only on landing.
"Fourth floor.—Large airy room with six single beds for adult males. Water-closet for
"males on landing.
"The place was opened 25th January, 1894, during which year 24 families, comprising