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side of the District, which has called forth much energy and zeal on
the part of the Inspectors in their endeavours to prevent the spreading
of the disease. Whenever a case, either of fever or scarlet-fever, is
reported to the office of the Sanitary Department, (and I may here
observe that all such cases which occur among the pauper population
are, by order of the Guardians, notified to the Sanitary officers) the
same is immediately visited by one of the Inspectors, and means are
promptly taken to disinfect the rooms occupied by the patient by
sulphurous acid gas ; and the bedding and clothes of the patient are
conveyed to the disinfecting apparatus, where they are submitted to
a heat of 250 degrees or thereabouts, and then they are returned to
the house from which they had been removed.
The subjoined is a copy of a handbill and placard which are
extensively distributed in the District. From which it may be seen
that all persons, whether rich or poor, can avail themselves, free of
charge, of the services of the officers of the Sanitary Department as
regards the use of the disinfecting apparatus, and the disinfecting of
the rooms in which contagious disease has existed.
"Board of Works, Whitechapel District.
"Disinfecting Apparatus
"The Inhabitants of this District are hereby informed that
"the Board of Works, by the advice of the Medical Department
"of the Privy Council, have erected an apparatus for the pur"pose
of disinfecting any Bedding, Clothing, &c., which have
"been used by persons while suffering from Small Pox, Scarlet
"Fever, or any other contagious Diseases. All such infected
"Bedding, Clothing, etc., will be disinfected Free of Charge,
"on application being made to the Sanitary Department of this
"District, No. 15, Great Alie Street."
Mr. Battram, the Sanitary Inspector for the South and part of
the North District, reported that he had received intimation of a youth,
suffering from small-pox, having been landed at St. Katharine Wharf
(which is in this District) from the steamship " Hawk," from Antwerp.
The patient was taken to a lodging-house in Upper East Smithfield,
immediately adjoining the Whitechapel District, but which is situated
in the Limehouse District. Dr. Rogers, the Medical Officer of Health
for that District, was made acquainted with the fact, and prompt
measures were taken for the removal of the patient to the Small-pox
Hospital, and for the disinfection of the room, &c. Mr. Battram
communicated the facts of the case to Mr. Harry Leach, the Medical
Officer to the Port Sanitary Authority, when measures were
promptly taken for the disinfection of the vessel, Mr. Battram was