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ARRANGEMENTS FOR DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION AND
THE EXTENT OF THEIR USE.
Disinfection.—On the receipt of a notification the district sanitary inspector
visits the home of the patient and enquires into the circumstances of the case to
discover, if possible, the source of infection, and to arrange for disinfection.
Practically all cases of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever are removed to hospital,
although in epidemic periods the hospital accommodation of the London County
Council is sometimes taxed to such an extent that cases which should go to hospital
have to be left at home. If the case is removed to hospital, infected articles,
bedding, etc., are removed to the Council's disinfecting station, Whitehart Road,
and disinfected there. The infected rooms are disinfected, sometimes by formalin
solution, sometimes by formalin vapour, and sometimes by washing with disinfectant
solution. If the case may be isolated at home the inspector reports the conditions
to the Medical Officer of Health, who decides whether or not home isolation can
be permitted, making a personal visit if necessary. A printed card of instructions
is given in these cases and the process of disinfection is delayed until the medical
attendant certifies that the case is free from infection. Periodical visits are made
by the district sanitary inspector to ensure that isolation is being carried out.
Contacts are excluded from school in accordance with the regulations of the London
County Council. In the case of Diphtheria, contacts attend at the Town Hall for
swabbing, when, in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health, it is necessary.
The disinfecting station is sometimes used for special disinfections at the
request of the inhabitants. A small charge is made for these disinfections, and
during the year 57 such disinfections were carried out, and fees amounting to
£15 6s. 6d. were paid.
In tabular form is shown below the amount of disinfection which was carried
out during the year:—