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extremely difficult to obtain hospital accommodation through unofficial
sources, many of the public hospitals considering that this should be
provided by the local authorities, the urgency of the cases, moreover,
frequently forbids their removal to a distant hospital, and the veryconsiderable
care and attention necessary to bring many of these cases
to a successful issue cannot in many instances be obtained.
Fortunately during the year under consideration no great prevalence
of the disease occurred, but in several cases the need of hospital
accommodation was acutely felt.
Disinfection Apparatus.
In my Report for 1894 I remarked on the obsolete type of disinfection
apparatus possessed by the Council, and in my Report for 1895
I suggested that the question of the provision of a more suitable apparatus
should be considered when the provision of hospital accommodation
was settled, but as this is not yet decided, and the difficulty of
carrying out the necessary disinfections with the apparatus at present
in use increases every year, a new steam disinfecting apparatus has
become an urgent necessity.
The labour of transport of articles requiring disinfection has been
lightened by the provision of a new bedding van.
Bakehouses, Cowsheds and Slaughter Houses.
These have been regularly inspected, no additions to their number
and no important alterations were made during the year.
Edmonton Urban District Council Act.
The Council succeeded during the year in passing through a
special Act of Parliament giving among many other things special
powers of entry and inspection of drains and removing some difficulties
respecting combined drainage, and also conferring important powers in
dealing with gipsy encampments which will be found of great use in
preventing certain nuisances arising therefrom, and in prohibiting encampments
on certain lands where they have previously given rise to
many complaints which could not hitherto be effectively dealt with.
A conviction was obtained against a person for encamping contrary to
the provisions of this new act after due notice had been given and a
penalty imposed. The views of the sanitary department were not
asked for until the Bill had been drafted.