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51
DISINFECTANTS.
It was not found necessary to use disinfectants so freely as usual in
keeping the roadways free from nuisance. This was due to the cold and wet
summer season experienced in 1910.
As heretofore, all the disinfectants used in the Public Health Department
were obtained through your Medical Officer of Health.
They are used for the following purposes:—
A. Deodorising and "denaturalizing" condemned meat, disinfecting
public conveniences (urinals, &c.).
B. Disinfecting roadways, street gullies, &c.
C. Disinfecting premises, &c., after infectious disease, drain testing
and sundries.
The amounts spent during the past twelve months under these several
headings were:— £ s. d.
A. 90 2 5
B 172 16 6
C 30 19 6
Total £293 18 5
The above amounts only relate to materials purchased for the use of the
Public Health Department. Arrangements have been made with the heads of
other departments whereby any disinfectants required by them can be obtained
direct from the Contractor supplying the Public Health Department.
PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF UNKNOWN DEAD.
In my annual report for last year I presented a full detailed description of
the De Rechter apparatus for the preservation of dead bodies, installed at the
City Mortuary in March, 1909.
Since its establishment twelve bodies have been placed therein, four during
1909, and eight during 1910. Eleven were bodies of unknown persons, but
four were subsequently identified and buried by the friends.
The action of the formalin vapours upon highly decomposed bodies has in
all cases not only arrested further decomposition, but has effected an actual
improvement in the appearance. In one instance to which I especially called
the attention of the Sanitary Committee, the body had been in the water for
at least a month. It is unnecessary to harrow the feelings by a description of
its condition, but under the influence of the formalin it was gradually
restored to an almost normal appearance, and at the time of burial, was not
only completely deodorised, but could have been readily identified by friends
or relatives.
One of the bodies placed in the apparatus was that of the man Gardstein,
who was shot in the Houndsditch affray. The City Police being desirous
that it should be preserved for identification purposes, it was placed in the
apparatus on the 22nd December, 1910, where it remained until the 29th
March, having been kept for 97 days, at the end of which time it was in
perfect condition.