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15
The disinfection of infected bedding and clothing is
carried out by means of a hot air chamber. This arrangement
is not a satisfactory one, as the penetrating power of
hot dry air is not sufficient to destroy bacteria which may
lodge in the folds of garments, or in the inside of mattresses,
pillows, etc.
It is impossible to raise the temperature of the oven
enough to get sufficient heat in the inside of these articles
for their thorough disinfection without scorching and injuring
them externally.
The only thorough way of disinfecting wearing apparel and
bedding is by means of a steam apparatus, which is the method
proposed to be provided at the new hospital buildings. Besides
having the clothes thoroughly done, the saving in time is considerable.
The hot air system takes at least four hours for one
baking, while with the steam apparatus the work is done in 30
minutes. This is a great saving in time, and as it is important
that poor people who have their bedding taken away should
have it back as soon as possible, this advantage becomes
apparent.
The number of rooms disinfected was 212.
Thirty library books were disinfected.
It is certain that infectious disease may be spread through
the medium of circulating libraries, and this is sometimes used as
an argument against their establishment. Recently, in order
to abolish as far as possible any risk of contagion from this
source, an arrangement has been made whereby the Librarian
receives from the Sanitary Department weekly, a list of houses
where infectious disease has been notified; this will prevent the
issue of books to such houses. If, however, books from the
Library are known to be in a house where infectious disease is,
they are taken possession of by the Sanitary Department and
either disinfected before being returned to the library, or
destroyed, as circumstances require.