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(b) For rooms.— Rooms are disinfected by sulphur fumigation for four to six hours. When
this period is over the room and windows are opened, the walls are washed down, and the floors
sprinkled with a mixture of carbolic acid and water. A mixture of about a quarter of a pint of
commercial carbolic acid to seven pints of water is used for this purpose.
In connection with disinfection, two assistants are employed by the borough council. In
the case of rooms the disinfection is done under the supervision of the district sanitary inspectors,
who direct the men as to the amount of sulphur which should be used in each case. After a room is
disinfected, if it is in need of cleansing, the inspector serves a notice upon the landlord for this
to be done. The process of disinfecting articles by steam is done by the two disinfecting
assistants and one of the men employed at the wharf, who acts as engineer for the disinfecting
apparatus. The assistants are provided with macintoshes, which they put on when handling
infected articles, but which they take off when going to the non-infected room to remove from
the apparatus articles after the process of disinfection is complete.
A laundry in connection with the disinfecting station has not been provided.
The sanitary authority have not provided a shelter for the use of persons during the
disinfection of their rooms.
Mortuary accommodation.— A satisfactory mortuary has been provided in connection
with, and at the rear of, a coroner's court in Fulham Palace-road. It contains two mortuary
chambers, one for persons dying of infectious complaints and one for those dying from other
diseases or as the result of accidents, on either side of a viewing lobby, from which they are
separated by windows. There is also a post-mortem room with a small laboratory attached.
There is a caretaker of the court and mortuary who resides on the premises.
By-laws made by the sanitary authority.— The following by-laws have been made by the
sanitary authority, namely—
For the keeping of water-closets supplied with sufficient
water for their effective action under Section 39 (2) of
the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891.
For the prevention of nuisances arising from any snow, ice, salt, dust, ashes,
rubbish, offal, carrion, fish, or filth, or matter, or thing in any street.
For preventing nuisances arising from any offensive matter running out of any
manufactory, brewery, slaughter house, knacker's yard, butcher's or fishmonger's shop,
or dunghill, into any uncovered place, whether or not surrounded by a wall or fence.
For the prevention of the keeping of animals on any premises in such place or
manner as to be a nuisance, or injurious or dangerous to health.
As to the paving of yards and open spaces in connection
with dwelling houses under Section 16 (1) of
the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891.
For securing the cleanliness and freedom from pollution
of tanks, cisterns and other receptacles used for storing of
water used or likely to be used by man for drinking or
domestic purposes, or for manufacturing drinks for the use
of man under Section 50 of
the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891.
With respect to houses let in lodgings, or occupied by
members of more than one family ... ... ... ... under Section 94 Public
Health (London) Act,
1891.
These by-laws do not call for comment except those relating to houses let in lodgings.
Reference has already been made to the fact that these by-laws contain a clause which exempts
certain houses, the exemption being based on rental, and to the fact that, as a result, some
houses are exempt, in regard to which advantage would be derived from the application of the
by-laws. 0
If, however, all houses occupied by more than one family were brought under the by-laws
the number of houses in Hammersmith which will be subject to registration and periodic inspection
will be considerable, and may comprise the bulk of the premises in the district.*
Food and Drugs Act.— Samples for analysis are collected by one of the sanitary inspectors,
who is also engaged in supervising the collection of house refuse. During the twelve
months to March 31st, 1901, 316 samples were analysed. Recently an inspector from the Board
of Agriculture conferred with the Town Clerk on the subject, and as a result it was decided
that the number of samples obtained during each year should be increased.
* The actual number of houses occupied by members of more than one family cannot be given but may be roughly estimated.
The total number of inhabited houses in 1901 was 15,198, whilst the total number of w separate occupiers" was 25,810, that is 10,612 in
excess of the number of houses. If no house contained more than two separate occupiers this would be the number of houses let in
lodgings. As a matter of fact some houses contain more, but on the other hand it is possible that all lodgers may not have been
returned as separate occupiers. In all probability the number of houses let in lodgings or occupied by members of more than one family
may be put at between 8,000—9,000.