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14
In all cases of smallpox, and in the case of other diseases, if the room be dirty the walls are
stripped by washing with a solution of carbolic acid and then limewhited by men engaged by the
sanitary authority.
In the portion of the district known as Bow, disinfection of rooms is effected by fumigation with
sulphur.
No charge is ever made for disinfection.
All disinfection in the district is not carried out by the sanitary authority, a fair number of
cases occur during each year in respect, to which certificates of disinfection having been done to the
satisfaction of a medical practitioner are received by the sanitary authority.
Temporary shelter.—Accommodation for the use of persons during the disinfection of their
rooms has not yet been provided.
St. Saviour, Southwark.
(a) Articles of bedding and clothes.—These articles are disinfected by means of dry heat in a
brick oven heated by means of gas jets beneath. Sulphur is also burnt in the oven as part of the procedure.
The articles are placed in and removed from the oven by the same opening.
For removal of articles there are two covered hand trucks, one for use before and the other after
the process of disinfection.
The erection of a steam disinfecting station forms part of a scheme under consideration for
providing adequate mortuary accommodation for the district.
(b) Rooms.—Fumigation by burning sulphur is practised after bedding and clothing have been
removed from the room. In every case notice is served to strip walls and to whitewash, and this is
always complied with.
No charge is ever made for disinfection.
Practically all the disinfection in the district is done by the sanitary authority; it is quite
exceptional for householders to make their own arrangements for having it carried out.
Temporary shelter.—No accommodation now exists. Provision for a shelter is included in the
mortuary scheme referred to above.
St. George-the-Martyr.
(«) Articles of bedding, cbe.—The sanitary authority have provided a Washington Lyon steam
disinfecting apparatus at their depot in King James-street. For the conveyance of articles to and
from the houses there are two hand trucks, one being reserved for the disinfected goods. Bedding
which it is necessary to destroy is sent to Guy's hospital, the board having a contract with this
institution for this purpose.
(b) Rooms.—After removal of bedding the rooms are fumigated with sulphur, and any furniture
or decorations which are taken out, are washed with a cloth wrung out in a solution of carbolic acid
(1 in 30). The room is kept closed for at least six hours, longer if possible, and one-and-a-half pounds of
sulphur candles are burnt for every 1,000 cubic feet of space. When the room is opened by the vestry's
disinfecting assistants, the occupier is advised to leave it freely exposed to the fresh air for a period of
24 hours. In some cases notice is served to re-paper and cleanse the rooms, and in a few the sanitary
authority have done this work.
No charge is ever made for disinfection.
Very few cases occur during the year in which householders make their own arrangements for
disinfection, possibly about five or six certificates from medical practitioners are obtained as to
disinfection having been carried out to their satisfaction.
Temporary shelter or house of reception for the use of persons during disinfection. A house has
been built adjoining the board's depot for this purpose. There is a resident caretaker. The accommodation
consists of eight rooms furnished as living and sleeping rooms, and forming four sets of
apartments of two rooms each, three bathrooms and two water-closets. All necessary cooking utensils
and crockery are provided.
Newington.
(a) Articles of clothing and bedding.—The vestry have provided a Washington Lyon steam
disinfecting apparatus at their depot in Manor-place, in a building erected for the purpose. This
building contains two chambers, into each of which the apparatus has an opening, one for the infected
articles, the other for removing them from the apparatus after the disinfection is completed, and two
separate sheds for the two vans used for bringing articles from and returning them to houses
respectively.
Different men are employed in the two disinfecting chambers during the process.
There is also an incinerator for the destruction of bedding if necessary.
(b) Rooms.—The procedure for disinfection differs according as (1) the case is treated at home,
(2) is at once removed to hospital.
(1) The room is fumigated with sulphur dioxide before removal of any articles, then the walls
are stripped and the rooms cleansed by men in the employ of the vestry.
(2) The walls and ceilings are sprayed with a 40 per cent. solution of formaline mixed with
water (1 in 80 parts). Then the room is sealed up and fumigated with sulphur for a period of from
12 to 18 hours, the room being generally kept closed during the night.
No charge is ever made by the vestry for disinfection.
All the disinfection of articles in the district is done by the sanitary authority, and it is very
seldom as regards rooms that householders make their own arrangements for having disinfection done.
Temporary shelter.—This has not yet been provided, but a site for the erection of a building for
this purpose has been obtained near the disinfecting apparatus, and the matter is now under consideration.
It is stated that the accommodation is badly needed.