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an apparatus far less efficient than those in which steam is used.
Articles requiring disinfection are removed by means of a truck. When
bedding is unfit for further use, it is burnt and replaced, but this event
is of rare occurrence. No charge is made for disinfection. Houses are
disinfected by the burning of sulphur in the rooms, stripping paper from
walls, and lime-whiting ceilings, the wall-stripping and lime-whiting
being carried out at the owner's expense.
"Scavenging.—At the time of the commencement of my inspection,
the sanitary authority contracted for the removal of the house and
street refuse of the district, and the cleansing of the roads, but
employed its own servants to cleanse the footways and the Borough
Market. The refuse which was removed by the contractor was taken to
Bankside and shot into barges on the Thames. The refuse collected by
the sanitary authority was removed to a wharf in Lambeth occupied by
the Strand Board of Works. Now none of the work is done by a
contractor, but the authority employs its own servants. The house
refuse is removed systematically from houses, the scavenger calling at
each house on his round, and not waiting to be summoned when his cry
is heard.
"Shelter for the accommodation of persons during the Disinfection
of their rooms.—In accordance with the requirement of section
60 (4) of the Public Health (London) Act, the sanitary authority has
provided two rooms at the top of a house in Nelson Square, occupied by
one of the Sanitary Inspectors, in which poor persons can be accomodated
during the disinfection of their own rooms. This shelter is
provided with three beds and other furniture by the sanitary authority.
"Sanitary Administration.—For the sanitary administration of
the district, the District Board has appointed a Medical Officer of
Health and two Sanitary Inspectors, and has also in its service a man
who is employed in disinfection and in the testing of drains of houses.
The second Inspector was not appointed until February, 1892.
"There is no clerk attached to the sanitary department, the
Inspectors preparing their own notices and keeping the records. The
Inspectors' report to the Medical Officer of Health, who, since March
1st, 1892, has had general supervision of the work of the sanitary
department.
"A book is kept at the office to which the hall-porter has access,
and in which inhabitants can enter their complaints; it is however
found by experience that this book is not used, but complaints are often
made verbally or sent by letter. In another book is entered the
particulars of every house inspected, a page being devoted to each house.
"There was at the time of my inquiry no ledger kept containing a
list of premises, the subject of proceedings, and by which could be seen
the nature of the proceedings and the results. This however, has since
been provided.
"The Sanitary Inspectors visit houses on complaint, but this
inspection is not limited to houses concerning which representation is
made to the sanitary authority. I am informed it is the practice of the
Inspectors, when their attention is directed to any particular house, to
inspect other houses in the same street, and further, when a complaint
is received respecting any house, inquiry is not limited to the subject of
the complaint, but the house is examined throughout with a view to
the discovery of any other defects that may exist.