View report page

76
Disinfection.
41. The mode of disinfection, cost of appliances, staff, etc.,
were fully described in my Annual Report 1903, page 73—76.
Rooms at 910 houses were disinfected, compared with 687,
945, 744, and 842 in the four preceding years. The disinfecting
apparatus was used 777 times for 8,513 articles from 732 houses.
137 books from the Free Library were disinfected.
The sum of £2 8s. 6d. was received for disinfection of rooms in
special cases on request of the occupier.
Health Shelter.
42. The Health Shelter was not used once. This has been
the case for more than three years. Owing to its proximity to
the mortuary there has always been a prejudice against it;
and now that Formalin is used for disinfection, it is only necessary
to close rooms for two or three hours, so that no one need be prevented
from occupying their sleeping room at night on account
of disinfection. It was found useful for sheltering and observing
smallpox contacts during the epidemic of 1902, and may not improbably
be needed for the purpose again in a few years' time.
The Mortuaries.
43. The Sun Street Mortuary was used for 170 bodies, compared
with 156, 164, 183 and 164 in the four preceding years.
157 were deposited for inquest, and 13 for custody. Ninety-two
post-mortem examinations were made. One body was deposited
in the infectious mortuary, compared with two in 1904.
The Eltham Mortuary was used for three bodies brought for
custody only.
Cemeteries.
44. The two Borough Cemeteries were well maintained as usual.