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39
DISINFECTION.
The methods in use for disinfection within the district were
explained in my previous report.
As to the actual efficacy of disinfection by chemical agents,
it is only fair to mention the change of opinion which has taken
place within the past few years. While the efficacy of steam
disinfection is admitted, the same testimony can hardly be put
forward on behalf of the many chemical substances used for the
purpose of disinfection of room surfaces, etc. The main argument
against the need for room disinfection at all exists in the
fact that apart from certain exceptions hereafter mentioned,
infection consists in a personal transference from the infected to
thers and not through fomites or Infected articles, rooms, etc.,
due to the further fact that the various causative organisms of
many of these diseases, either cannot exist apart from their
particular pabulum in the human host or can only do so under
special laboratory conditions. The only exceptions to this statement
so far as this country is concerned are small pox, where
fomites undoubtedly convey infection ; tuberculosis, where the
dust of rooms tenanted by consumptives is infectious; water,
milk, oysters, etc., in the typho-dysenteric group; and bodyvermin
and consequently clothing, etc., in the case of typhus,
relapsing and trench fever.
With the exception of recently soiled articles, which may
harbour infection for short periods, it may be said that scarlet
fever, measles, whooping cough, cerebro-spinal fever, diphtheria,
etc., are only infectious in the individual sufferer, and that any
need for chemical disinfection of the home may be safely abandoned,
as has to some extent already been done in this country and to a
very considerable extent both in Germany and America without
the incidence of untoward after-effects, provided the necessity has
been inculcated of thoroughly airing and cleaning with soap and
water the apartments exposed to infection.