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men. In a large number of "Contacts" the vaccination was done
on the second day of exposure to infection, and I have no doubt
saved many from taking the disease.
I am satisfied that this early removal of the family to the
Reception House, and the subsequent vaccination, prevented serious
outbreaks in private houses. A reference to the weekly number of
cases will show that with one exception no such outbreak in connection
with a private house did occur.
The Distribution of Papers containing information in relation
to Small-pox—
In the early part of the epidemic large posters were affixed to
the walls in the more prominent portions of the Borough. These
posters described the chief symptoms of the disease. Handbills containing
the same information were left at a large number of houses,
especially in neighbourhoods likely to suffer from an invasion of the
disease. At the same time two women inspectors were employed
in making a house to house inspection in streets where cases had
occurred, in order to find out the persons unvaccinated.
All this information as to vaccination was brought to the notice
of the vaccination officials daily. In cases where much difficulty
was experienced in getting persons vaccinated the Medical Officer
of Health assisted in the work.
The publicity given to the symptoms of the disease induced
numbers of persons to attend at the Public Health Office. The general
effect was to bring all cases at once to the notice of the Medical.
Officer.
In addition a circular letter was sent to all employers of labour
in factories, informing them that if they wished it the Public
Vaccinator would attend and vaccinate their workpeople free of cost.
In this way thousands of factory workers were vaccinated.
Disinfection of Rooms—
Our procedure in that respect was as follows, viz.:- Immediately
after a case had been removed to hospital the room with all the
clothes and bedding, just as the patient had left it, was treated with
sulphur vapour by burning 21bs. of roll sulphur in an ordinary brazier
and keeping the room closed for at least 8 hours. Next morning the
bedding and clothes were removed to a Washington Lyon's Steam
Disinfector and exposed to steam of 201bs. pressure for 20 minutes.
The room in the meanwhile had the paper stripped off the walls
and the whole interior of the room washed down with a solution of
formalin applied with an ordinary garden syringe. The room was