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circumstances of the particular case, represents the best way of
tackling this problem.
Occasions do arise when apart from purely medical consideration,
bedding which may have been in contact with a patient but
after suitable treatment is non-infectious, is nevertheless discarded
largely for psychological reasons; a happening which one understands
without, of course, agreeing with it.'
It is to be regretted that steam disinfection has to be carried
out through the good services of our local Isolation Hospital since
the amount of material with which they can cope is naturally limited
and, this apart, they have evidently no obligation at all to deal with
articles not concerned with infectious disease. From time to time
bedding and other articles do require disinfection irrespective of
there being infection in the household, the example coming readily
to mind being that of a bug-infested house, and appropriate treatment
is not easy to secure.
Transport of infected material has also presented something of
a problem regarding alike the actual vehicle and the personnel employed.
The situation lias, however, after due consideration, been
dealt with by arranging for the provision of a light motor van to be
operated by our own staff for the purpose of dealing with infected
material. This vehicle, after suitable disinfection, will also serve
for general departmental use, and only its arrival will lessen our
anxieties.
Infective Hepatitis.
The total number of cases of Infective Hepatitis notified during
the year was 90, referring to 87 civilians and 3 persons in the Armed
Forces. The figure for the previous year was 52 (43 civilians and 9
persons in the Armed Forces).