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24
Disinfection.
Full reference to disinfection was made in the previous report
and the procedure described is being continued. Opinion with
regard to infectivity of fomites has changed as far as the medical
profession is concerned, and I am pleased to say is changing amongst
members of the lay public. At one time is was thought that
germs were harboured and waited an opportunity of descending
upon some unwilling victim and thus infecting him. The nature of
infecting matter is now known to be more complicated and the
organisms indicted as causes of many of the infectious diseases are
now known to lose their power when separated from their normal
host, i.e., man. In areas where terminal disinfection has been
discontinued for many years, e.g., the County Borough of Brighton,
it has not been found that any increase of zymotic diseases has been
noticed.
Disinfection of Library Books.
During the year the whole question of the method of collecting
library books for disinfection after a case of infectious disease was
under review. In the past, the procedure has been that upon
visiting a case, the Sanitary Inspectors have instructed the occupiers
of the houses to bring the books to this office. This arrangement
was not altogether satisfactory owing, in a few cases, to people
not troubling to return books.
The procedure now is for the Libraries to be informed of all
cases of infection, whereupon they send a notice, together with a
label addressed to this office, to the occupiers of the premises.
The notice requests the householder to bring the books either to this
office or to the nearest branch library. This arrangement is
far more satisfactory. So far as private libraries are concerned,
they are notified of houses where eases of infection exist, and are
requested to arrange for the books to be brought to this office for
disinfection if desired.
In all cases, whether public or private libraries, instructions
are given to the borrower that no more books are to be borrowed
until those have been given up.
Smoke Abatement.
As in previous years, there was only one persistent case of
excessive emission of smoke in the district. Improvement during
the year was maintained and a total of 13 observations was carried
out showing that in 390 minutes there were 51¼ minutes of no
smoke, 245 minutes of moderate smoke, and 93¾ minutes of black
smoke.