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67
chamber. These drains will be further opened up and tested
to find out their true condition. The result will determine
what is required to be carried out to render them in a satisfactory
condition.
CLEANLINESS AND DISINFECTION OF
SCHOOLROOMS.
I presented a report to the Committee on this subject
during the year, and it was referred to another Committee
for consideration and report. The matter is still in abeyance.
The following extract from that report will explain
the position and the recommendations:—
"When it is considered what a number of children
enter one of tue Council's schools in the course of the day,
bringing with them dust and dirt from the streets on their
boots, their clothing fouled with organic secretions, and
their constant movement when in school, it is not to be
wondered that the atmosphere becomes impregnated and
fouled. In addition, infectious disease in some form is
often occurring, skin diseases with more or less dried discharges,
coughs with dispersal of mucous, and colds with
runnings at the eyes, all add to the pollution of the atmosphere.
So that, as all these conditions depend on germ life,
it is essential to destroy this life by disinfection as well as
by ordinary cleaning of the grosser dirt and dust."
To accomplish this, however, without unduly increasing
the cost, is impossible. As a compromise, I recommend
that:—
(i) All the schools be sprayed and disinfected at
least once a year. The cloak.rooms, as at
present, being sprayed out three times a year.