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The Local Government Board also wrote on May 25th, giving the above information,
and suggesting that the blankets should be either disinfected or destroyed.
The Town Clerk replied to this letter, and stated that the Council would be
pleased to avail themselves of the Board's suggestion to destroy the blankets if the
Board would indemnify the Council against the cost of destruction of the blankets
and the compensation, which would have to be paid to the owners, in accordance
with the provisions of Section 60, Sub-sec. 5 of the Public Health Act, 1891.
The Local Government Board replied on June 3rd that they had no power to
give the indemnity suggested and no funds out of which they could pay the compensation.
The majority of the blankets, that had been sold, had been bought by a firm in
the City, who had afterwards sold them to their several customers in various parts
of the country. In addition to these, I found that Mr. Myers had sold direct to
persons in various parts of London, as well as to Nottingham, Clacton, and Montreal.
I communicated the facts to the respective Medical Officers of Health, who took
prompt action in tracing the blankets and having them disinfected.
Thty were disinfected at a time when the disinfecting apparatus was not
engaged in disinfecting ordinary infected clothing, and also during the men's overtime.
Fortunately there was very little infectious disease in the Borough at the
time. The number of articles disinfected was as follows : —
51,250 blankets.
341 bundles which contained blankets which had been torn up in four
quarters.
131 sacks ditto
28J bales ditto
1,575 ground sheets.
350 bundles ground sheets (pieces).
61 tents.
13 sacks leather, stirrups, etc.
1 sack old clothes.
The ground sheets could not be disinfected by steam, and had to be carefully
washed with a solution of carbolic acid.
It took nearly six months to complete the disinfection. The amount of the
bill that was presented to the War Office and was paid to the Borough Council was
£498 5s. lOd.