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DISINFECTION.
During 1910 disinfection was carried out at 1,131 premises, as compared with
1,103 in 1909, 1,208 in 1903 and 1,688 in 1907. The articles removed and disinfected
at the Borough disinfecting station numbered 24,788. as compared with 26,544 in
1909, 22,056 in 1908, 34,095 in 1907, 26,693 in 1906, 33,745 in 1905, 14,063 in 1904,
8,911 in 1903, 55,025 in 1902 and 17,226 in 1901. The articles disinfected included
1,222 beds. 1,157 mattresses, 2,356 pillows, 816 bolsters and 19,237 other articles,
including sheets, blankets, quilts, curtains, carpets, clothing and the like. Included
are 1,092 articles disinfected on account of vermin, as compared with 564 for 1909.
It was necessary to destroy 9 infected beds, 14 palliasses, 3 bolsters and 5 pillows,
which were so torn and contaminated that it was not advisable to return them.
These were replaced with new. No complaints of a serious nature were received in
respect to the measures taken by the Sanitary Authority, but in one instance compensation
was allowed for damage done to a quilt.
THE SHELTER.
The Shelter was in use on three occasions during the year: on June 20th, for
one night, by a family of three persons; on July 4th, for one night, by three persons;
in both instances for smallpox; and on December 8th, for 3 hours, by a single person
whilst his clothing was being disinfected.
THE PUBLIC MORTUARY.
The dead bodies received into the public mortuary numbered 382, as compared
with 392 m 1909, 367 in 1908, 349 in 1907, 405 in 1906, 417 in 1905, and 460 in 1904.
No bodies of persons dead of infectious disease were removed to the mortuary by
the Sanitary Authority. The numbers for previous years were 5 in 1909, 6 in 1908,
3 in 1907, 5 in 1906, 3 in 1905, and 4 in 1904. There is a special iron shell at the
mortuary which is used for the reception of infected bodies.
The inquests numbered 322, as compared with 317 in 1909, 302 in 1908, 298
in 1907, 295 in 1906, 290 in 1905, and 336 in 1904. The post mortem examinations
at the post mortem room attached to the mortuary numbered 214, as compared
with 241 in 1909, 203 in 1908, 229 in 1907, 226 in 1906, 223 in 1905, and 251 in 1904.
The figures for years previous to 1904 are contained in the Report for 1903.
WATER SUPPLY.
The rainfall for the year measured at Oxford amounted to 29.178 inches Taking
the mean fall for 35 years there was an excess of approximately 3'4 inches Most rain
fell during the last quarter of the year, the rainfall during that period amounting
to 11767 inches. The wettest month was December, when 4.958 inches were
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