London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Acton 1901

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]

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22
DISINFECTION AND METHODS TAKEN TO PREVENT
THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
In my Annual Report of 1899 I drew your attention to the value
of Formic Aldehyde as a disinfectant; since then the results of its use
have been so praised by Sanitary Authorities that I have finally
substituted it for sulphurous gas in the disinfection of rooms, &c., and
am very pleased with the change.
A Lamp is used for generating the Formalin, which consists of
three parts—viz., a spirit lamp, an absorbent block, and a container to
hold the Formalin fluid.
The action is as follows:—
The fluid is poured into the container, from whence it percolates
on to the absorbent block, under which is placed the spirit lamp. The
block when heated vaporizes the Formalin, which after four hours
completely disinfects a room, without damage to pictures or metals,
permeating at the same time all woollen and other such articles.
A thoroughly up-to-date Brougham Ambulance has been provided.
It has every convenience, and patients can now be removed with the
minimum amount of discomfort and danger.
SICK NURSING.
The Nurses in connection with the Cottage Hospital have had
under treatment 337 patients, and paid 7,926 visits. An average of 23
to each patient.
I can but speak in the highest praise of the excellent work done
by these ladies, which undoubtedly helps to keep down our death rate.