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10
ing this information were supplied to the medical men of this
neighbourhood, but for many reasons they were not much
used, and frequently the only information which reaches the
officers of the Board as to the occurrence of infectious disease
is the return of the Registrar of Deaths. What can be done
is then done in the way of cleansing and disinfecting, but
probably the disease has gained time to be started on its
course, and cannot be rooted out suddenly.
The subject of domestic disinfection in a sick room has
been treated of in former Reports, but I may again recapitulate
former directions.
A washing tub or vessel containing a mixture of one
table spoonful of Sir William Burnett's solution of chloride of
zinc, or the same quantity of good carbolic acid, in the proportion
of one table spoonful to a gallon of water, should be
always ready to receive linen of all kinds. All vessels intended
for the reception of the excretions of patients should
have a similar solution placed in them. The drains should
be flushed twice daily with a solution of similar strength.
The rooms also sprinkled and washed with a similar solution.
In some of the London districts, public disinfecting
chambers are constructed for purifying infected clothes and
bedding by means of heat, 250 degrees in a gas oven; and
sulphurous acid gas; and I find that many miscellaneous
articles of wearing apparel are constantly sent for purification.
It has not yet been deemed of sufficient importance to
erect a building for that purpose in this District, but processes
of disinfection are adopted in accordance with the
provisions of the 22nd and 23rd sections of the Sanitary Act,
1866, and when necessary are carried out by one of the Inspectors
of Nuisances under my guidance, and dangerous or
worthless articles have been destroyed by burning.
Pulmonary Diseases.
166 deaths, 51 in excess of the number registered in
1872, or 3.04 per 1000 population, took place from pulmonary
diseases (other than phthisis), of which 99 were caused by the
so often fatal disease, bronchitis.