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52
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 2,606
Number of articles of bedding and clothing
disinfected or destroyed 36,848
Number of Public Library and other books
disinfected 6,920
Number of persons accommodated in the
isolation shelters -
(b) for the destruction of vermin:
Number of rooms disinfested 562
Number of articles destroyed 484
Number of beds, mattresses, blankets, etc.,
treated in cyanide gas chambers 13,126
Number of articles disinfested by other
means 10,597
Number of van loads of furniture treated
in cyanide gas chambers 30
In addition 9½ van loads and 17 dust bins of verminous and
unwholesome articles were removed to the Disinfecting Station for
destruction.
The cyanide gas chambers were again used on several occasions
for the destruction of food pests in such articles as coriander seed,
figs, egot of rye, dried vegetables and peanuts. The total weight
of the foodstuff treated was 29 tons.
The following additional work was also carried out at the
Disinfecting Station:—
1 ton of wood treated by cyanide before use at Day Nurseries
for toy making.
6 bales of flax disinfected before export.
414 large and 1,165 small bundles of clothing disinfected before
export for relief in Europe.
12 London County Council ambulances treated by cyanide
after conveying typhus or suspected typhus cases.
201 articles of bedding dried and aired after saturation by
rain through bomb damaged roofs, etc.
The staff of the Disinfecting Station have removed 59 tons
of rubbish from bomb sites in the Borough in those cases where
responsibility for the deposits could not be placed upon the owners
of the land or other persons. The depositing of rubbish upon these
sites is a constantly recurring nuisance and removal by the staff
of the Public Health Department is often necessary in order to
avoid danger to the health of the public.