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established must conform with the provisions prescribing the
nature of the building and the particular apparatus necessary
to prevent any nuisance arising from the offensive materials
used in the various processes.
The Bye-laws when drafted will be submitted to the
Council and Local Government Board for approval.
DISINFECTION.
Forty-nine houses wherein 54 cases of infectious disease
occurred have been disinfected under my direction and
supervision, after the patient has been removed to Hospital,
or, when the patient is kept at home, after convalescence.
The system of disinfection has been more perfect than
hitherto, owing to the steam disinfector being now in use for
the disinfection of infected bedding and articles of clothing.
This is followed by spraying the walls, floors, and ceilings
with formaldehyde, and the scrubbing of the floors, skirtings,
and woodwork generally. The bedding is also washed after
being returned from the disinfector.
Disinfectant soap has been supplied during the year in
preference to the supply of powder, and is undoubtedly an
improvement, for the reason that my experience has been
that a great deal of ignorance is displayed as to the uses
to which powders and fluids should be put. It is a common
experience to see the liquid and powder placed in saucers
about the sick room or sprinkled under the bed.
It is therefore not surprising that owing to this false
sense of security little attention is given to the very essential
procedure of cleansing with soap and water.
To be effective a disinfectant should be capable of
miscibility, and be applied to the article to be disinfected.
Unless these conditions are complied with it may be
productive of more harm than good. The supply of soap in
the case of the poorer houses tends to promote a greater
degree of cleanliness, which after all is the best possible
preventative against the spread of infection.
Another important point is the supply of plenty of fresh
air, for the object of disinfection is not to purify the vitiated
atmosphere of a room, what is necessary is to obtain a fresh
supply.