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39
their own ambulance. Separate vehicles are kept for small pox and
for other infectious diseases. A closed conveyance has also been
provided for bringing patients home again after their discharge from
hospital—an arrangement that is very valuable in protecting the
health of children, whose parents are unable to afford a suitable
conveyance, when discharged from hospital during cold and wet
weather. Particulars as to the work done will be found in the
report of the Sanitary Inspector.
Disinfection. Rooms are disinfected, after the removal of the
patient, by spraying with a i in 40 solution of formaline. Linen and
cotton articles are stepped in a solution of Jeyes' Fluid in the room
previous to being washed, and articles of clothing, bedding etc., are
removed in a van provided for the purpose by the Council, to the
disinfecting station where they are treated in a Washington-Lyon
steam disinfector of the latest pattern. After treatment the bedding
etc. are returned in a separate van used only for conveying disinfected
articles. Details under this head are given in the Sanitary
Inspector's report.
HOUSES AND HOUSING ACCOMMODATION.
Housing of the Working Classes. Large numbers of
new houses continue to be built in the district, and it is satisfactory
to notice that some of these have been constructed of a size and at
a weekly rental that will put them within the reach of the low wage
earner whose family is still young.
The Council's bye-laws are carried out under the supervision of
the Building Inspectors, by whom the drains are water-tested. On
their completion, and before they are occupied, all new houses are
visited by me, to ascertain their general fitness for habitation. In
the great majority of instances the only point that remains for me
to determine on these occasions, is the condition of the inside
plastering as regards dampness. In a certain number of cases I
have found it necessary to defer the date of occupation for varying
periods to enable the plaster to set and dry sufficiently to prevent