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proved, it had been intended to prosecute for the offence of
wilful exposure; but it appeared that the public Board
School, where the exposure took place, could not be regarded
as a "public place" within the meaning of Section 126 of the
Public Health Act, 1875. It certainly seems incomprehensible
that the most important place where such an offence
can be committed should not have been provided for in
the Act.
During infectious illnesses disinfectants are supplied
free of cost, and upon the receipt of a medical certificate
that infection is at an end, the infected room or house is
"fumigated" with sulphur dioxide gas, all clothing and
bedding is removed for steam disinfection at Croydon (pending
the completion of the hospital), and owners are required to
strip and whitewash the walls under the supervision of the
Inspectors. The disinfection as above described is not, however,
carried out after cases of measles and erysipelas, but in
the former the occupiers are required to thoroughly cleanse
their houses.
After cases of diphtheria, the custom here, since,
1894. has been not to sanction the cessation of precau;
tions until bacteriological examination shows the throat
to be free from diphtheria bacilli; and, for this
administrative purpose, the so-called pseudo-diphtheria
bacillus is regarded as infective. The practice of making use
of bacteriology to determine whether a case is to be regarded
as diphtheritic or not, is also gaining in favour in the
District, and will no doubt become very generally used. In
regard to another important disease, namely, typhoid fever, it
seems possible that Widal's serum test may also prove of
great service in rendering diagnosis more exact.
During attacks of the latter disease, strong pails
with tight lids are delivered every alternate day at infected
houses for the reception of all excreta and other waste