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44
WATER.
Two samples of water were submitted to me for examination.
Both were found to be unfit for drinking purposes, and supplies taken
from the main were substituted.
A water main has been extended to Botany Bay, the Tower
Tank completed, and the supply is now available for all the houses
in that neighbourhood.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER, ACUTE
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Although we have happily experienced such a large decrease
in the number of notifications of acute infectious diseases during the
last few years, we have in no "way weakened the completeness of the
administrative action which we have heretofore adopted to gain
information as to the source and method of spread of infection, and
to restrain its spread.
When a case of infectious disease is notified, the house is at
once visited, full inquiries made, and all necessary steps are taken
to secure the isolation of the patient either by immediate removal
to Hospital or otherwise; disinfectants are supplied, and the necessary
examination and disinfection of premises carried out. All
contacts are kept under observation, children excluded from school,
and any other precautions which may in my opinion be necessary
are adopted.
Notifications are usually left by hand or come by post to the
offices, and in many instances the medical man in attendance
telephones immediately on becoming aware that he has an infectious
case to deal with.
The following special arrangements have also been made to
remove and deal with cases notified out of Office hours:—An
Inspector attends (when the Office is closed) on Saturdays at
3.30 p.m., and on Sundays and Holidays at 9.30 a.m.. and 3.30 p.m.,
and in the intervals notifications may be left with the Caretaker of
the Public Offices.
METHOD OF DISINFECTION—ROOMS, Etc.
Rooms are sprayed with formalin, and also fumigated with
formalin gas or sulphur. Owners or occupiers are also required to
strip and cleanse rooms in all cases where patients have been isolated
at home, or where otherwise necessary.
Bedding and other articles that cannot be properly washed and
boiled are disinfected in a Washington-Lyons steam disinfecting
apparatus. This apparatus stands at the Council's Sewage Farm.
Two vans are used, one for conveying the infected articles from
houses to disinfecting station, and the other for returning them.