View report page

36
55,025 as compared with 17,226 in 1901, and included 1,274 beds, 1,842 mattresses,
2,721 pillows, 1,247 bolsters, and 47,941 miscellaneous articles. In addition to these
8 beds, 22 palliasses, 6 bolsters and 1 pillow were destroyed and replaced with new.
The large amount of disinfection this year was the result of the small-pox outbreak.
The number of articles disinfected is enormously in excess of any recorded in previous
years. For several weeks in February and March it was necessary to carry on work
with only a few hours intermission during the night, and for several months double
the usual number of men were employed in the work of disinfection. The results of
the steps taken as to disinfection so far as could be judged were satisfactory. I have
no reason for believing that they were inefficient in any instance. There was the
usual distribution of packets of carbolic powder at the Town Hall during the summer
months, and about 26 gallons of carbolic fluid were used for flushing drains and
urinals and in connection with the public mortuary.
Owing to the large amount of work and the long hours required to cope with the
disinfection in the early part of the year with a single disinfecting apparatus, and in
view of the fact that the apparatus has been subject to some ten years' wear and tear,
the Council decided to provide an additional apparatus, and a low pressure unjacketed
steam disinfector was obtained from Messrs. Manlove, Alliott and Co., Ltd., of
Nottingham. The new apparatus has a circular chamber for the reception of artic'es
to be disinfected. Its diameter is 4 feet and its length 8 feet, and the ends are
strengthened so as to render it suitable for a maximum working pressure of 10 lbs. per
square inch in the chamber. The machine is fitted with Alliott and Paton's patent
vacuum and hot air apparatus and Gripel's steam trap No. 658. The body of the
disinfector is lagged with wood secured by brass bands, and the doors are lagged with
sheet steel. Articles for disinfection are placed in an iron truck provided for the
purpoS3 and so arranged as to be readily run into or out of the disinfecting chamber.
A gauge for recording the time taken in disinfecting and a thermometer for marking
the temperature attained within the chamber are connected with the disinfector.
Steam is obtained from a 6 h.p. verticle high pressure steam boiler which is provided
with the usual fittings, cast iron base plate and ash pan combined, and a special cast
iron flue bend. The boiler is specially adapted for burning the foul air from the
disinfector, and is fed with water by means of an injector. The total cost of the
apparatus was £290. Tt came into use during December and so far has answered well.
In order to permit of the additional disinfector being suitably placed it was necessary to
make considerable alterations in and to enlarge building of the disinfecting station.
The work in connection therewith was carried out by Messrs. Schooley and Son, of No. 7,
Appold Street, under the direction of Mr. J. Rush Dixon, the Borough Surveyor, at a
total cost of £141 1s. 2d. The work done consisted of the removal of the old roof,
raising the walls and re-roofing, and an addition of some 12ft. Oin. x 4ft. Oin. was
made at the north end. The new work is built of stock bricks in cement. The old
work was re-pointed. The floor is concrete floated with cement. A doorway was
built in the addition to afford entrance to the non-infected side. There are 3 opening
skylights provided in the roof and a new window has been placed in the western wall.
The work carried out has greatly improved the disinfecting station.