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166
During the year 1934 the Education Committee requested
particulars and information in regard to "arrangements for the
disinfection of books and apparatus used by scholars who are
subsequently excluded from school owing to infectious disease,"
and it was considered desirable to prepare a report outlining the
advantages and disadvantages in regard to the disinfection of
school equipment and materials.
Disinfection in the Schools after Cases of Acute Infectious
Disease.
In order to arrive at a definite opinion as to the measures
required to prevent the spread of infection in the Schools it is
necessary to recall some salient facts in connection with the somewhat
controversial question in regard to the value of disinfection
in reducing the incidence and dissemination of the acute infectious
diseases.
There is no doubt that, for the most part, infection occurs by
direct contact (i.e., from individual to individual) and that fomites
and furniture (except perhaps articles used in connection with
personal hygiene, such as handkerchiefs, towels, drinking vessels,
tooth brushes, etc., and articles likely to come in contact with
the mouth, such as books, pencils or penholders) are seldom, if
ever, a source of infection. These facts are significant when
considered in association with the average distance to which infection
may be propelled during coughing, sneezing or loud
speaking ; this distance has been proved by experiment to exceed
six feet, and in some illnesses may be greater.
The diffusion of acute infectious disease except by personal
contact must be very rare, and no case is on record where school
material has been demonstrated as the cause of the spread of
infection; it is fortunate that such diffusion is rare since normal
school organisation and routine make it difficult, if not impossible,
to ensure the collection and disinfection or destruction of all the
school equipment used by an infected scholar.
It is generally recognised that the only sure and satisfactory
means of disinfection is by the application of either moist or dry
heat and that liquid or fumigant disinfectants are not effective
unless used in a concentration which is either dangerous to life