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36
case of chicken pox contracted small-pox and that no deaths occurred
amongst the patients sent in from the Borough of Richmond, are
evidence of the care and skill exercised by Dr. Steegmann and his
staff at the Hospital.
As soon as the patient was removed, the rooms in
Disinfection. which he had been during the illness were sprayed
with a solution of perchloride of mercury and afterwards
fumigated with sulphurous acid gas. The following day the
paper was stripped from the walls and burnt. All articles of bedding
clothing, &c., that were likely to spread infection were removed to
Dockwell for disinfection or destruction. Disinfection of the rooms
was carried out most carefully by Assistant Inspector Norman and
Junior Assistant Parsons who performed these duties as soon as the
patient was removed, necessitating their working, on many occasions
late on into the night. The Sanitary Inspectors also assisted in the
removal of the patients, and special waterproof cloaks were provided
for their use on these occasions.
Vaccination In every instance the occupants of the household
and from whence a case was removed were advised as to
He-Vaccina- the importance of vaccination and revaccination.
tiorj- Similar advice was given to any person known to have
been in the infected house, and on some occasions a
house to house visitation was undertaken,by the Medical Officer of
Health, in the street where a case had occurred. Intimation was
given to the vaccination officer of every case, and he also made
visits and informed the public vaccinator of those people desirous
of being vaccinated or revaccinated. The Medical Officer, Sanitary
staff, medical men in attendance on the cases, ambulance drivers,
man in charge, and nurses at Dockwell Hospital had all been
recently revaccinated, with a result that none contracted the
disease, though exposed to the infection on many occasions, and in
some instances, for lengthy periods.
A copy of the following circular was forwarded to the
occupier of every laundry in the Borough.