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undoubtedly a difficult matter for a small and poor district
to provide Hospital accommodation for the various
infectious diseases for which such provision is required, and
it would be in some respects better were this duty undertaken
by a body having a wider administration, but the
matter is a pressing one and urgently requires to be met.
The measures adopted with regard to Infectious
diseases were detailed in my annual report for 1891, to
which copies of the various notices served, were attached,
and with the exception of the limited extent to which
Hospital accommodation has been provided have remained
the same.
The method of disinfection of infected bedding
and clothing is by dry heat, and the use of the apparatus
involves much time and labour, as well as consumption of
fuel, all of which would be economised by the substitution
of a steam disinfection chamber, steam being always
available at the pumping station.
The Council's ambulance is merely an old carriage,
and a properly constructed ambulance is much needed.
bake-houses.
There are nineteen bake-houses in the district, and
they have all been inspected during the year by the
Sanitary Inspector and myself; the inspections were made
between the hours of six and eight a.m. None of them are
situated underground, and in only one is the floor below
the level of the footway.
The principal defects found were:—
1. Dirty flour stores; in several instances the
flour was stored in lofts or outhouses in a dirty and
dilapidated condition, the roofs of which were dirty and
festooned with cobwebs, which had evidently not been
disturbed for long periods.
2. Proximity of stables, for the most part of
defective construction and foul and ill-kept. In one
instance the stable opened directly into the bake-house,
and manure was piled up against the oven walls. The
baker, in several instances, appeared to act as stableman
and to pass from the stable to the kneading trough without
ablution.
3. Defective drains inside the bake-house and
proximity of closet to oven.
Notice to remedy the defects found has been
served in the several cases requiring it, and the necessary
works have been executed or are in progress.
4. Neglect of lime-washing.