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are most inclined to use the drinking fountains are those who are
suffering from a febrile condition, possibly a forerunner of diphtheria or
some other infectious disease.
Lavatory and Cloak Room Accommodation is
provided at all the schools. The washing basins are all on the intermittent-flow
principle, and the waste pipes in some cases discharge under
the basins into a half-channel pipe (which facilitates removal of blockage),
and so over gully outside. The hooks in the cloakrooms are in two or
three tiers, and twelve inches apart; so that if the clothing does not touch
at the sides, yet they overlap one another considerably. Fumigation, more
or less often, of the cloak-rooms, has been suggested, but scrubbing at
least once a week with hot water and soap is the proper treatment.
Heating of the Schools is effected partly by a hot-water
circulation, and partly by Boyd's ventilating grates.
The temperatures in some of the classrooms at Croyland Road
School have not been satisfactory in the cold weather. Minor alterations
have been made in order to improve this.
At Brettenham Road School a new furnace for heating purposes
has been installed.
Artificial Lighting is produced from an ordinary gas
installation. The lighting at several of the schools has been unsatisfactory
during the months of December and January. In order to
remedy this all the departments in Eldon Road and Raynham Road
Schools have been provided with incandescent gas-light burners in lieu
of the old fish-tail burners, two two-light inverted burners being provided
in each room. This has effected a considerable improvement. The same
alteration is necessary also at the Houndsfield Road, Montagu Road, and
Silver Street Schools. Provision has been made for this in the estimates
of the ensuing year for Houndsfield and Montagu Road Schools.
Seating. The policy of gradually substituting new desks for the
old ones has been continued; three hundred new dual desks have been
supplied during the year.
Ventilation is in no case maintained by a mechanical or
"plenum" system, but on the "natural" plan, which is cheaper and
more effective. I have never yet seen a school, or other public institution,
where the "plenum" system is a success from a hygienic point of view.
It is certainly expensive to establish, and a continuing heavy expense
to maintain.
fire. The fire appliances at all the schools are tested by drill,
in the presence of Mr. Croasdell, the Superintendent of our Fire Brigade.
These drills serve the useful purpose of showing up the defects that
require remedy.