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33
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
The following is a summary of the work carried out by the
disinfection staff during the year:—
(a) after the occurrence of infectious and contagious diseases :
Number of rooms disinfected 3,053
Number of articles of bedding and clothing
disinfected or destroyed 46,179
Number of Public Library and other books
disinfected 1,444
Number of persons accommodated in the
isolation shelters —
(b) for the destruction of vermin:
Number of rooms fumigated 484
Number of beds, mattresses, etc., cleansed
or destroyed 34,459
In addition, 51 van-loads of furniture have been treated in the
cyanide gas chambers at the Disinfecting Station and 261 collections
were made of verminous and unwholesome articles for destruction.
Included among these collections were 35 full van-loads and 31 were
collections of the unwanted possessions of persons, usually aged and
infirm, who had died or been removed to hospital.
The figures given above do not include the very large number
of disinfections of public air-raid shelters, wardens' posts, firewatchers'
quarters and premises occupied by Civil Defence
personnel
The cyanide gas chambers were in almost daily use throughout
the year and were invaluable in dealing with the bedding of the large
number of Civil Defence personnel billeted in the various depots in
the Borough. The chambers have also, on many occasions, been used
for the treatment of foodstuffs.