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22
DISINFECTION OF INFECTED PREMISES, &c.
Details of the number of premises, articles of clothing,
&c., disinfected or destroyed will be found in the
Sanitary Inspector's Report. Rooms are disinfected by
fumigation with Formalin and Sulphur in combination,
walls and wooden surfaces being sprayed with strong
Formalin solution where required. There is a small
steam apparatus for disinfecting bedding and woollen
fabrics. Rooms in which persons affected with consumption
or cancer have been domiciled are disinfected
in the same way if the cases are reported to the Medical
Officer of Health or Sanitary Inspector.
SANITARY WORK SUMMARISED.
Thirty-three premises were inspected in connection
with Infectious Diseases, and 22 on complaint of Nuisances
; 28 houses, premises, &c., were cleaned or repaired ;
19 sanitary conveniences were supplied ; 46 caravans
were moved on out of the district. These people are a
great nuisance and source of danger to the health of the
district in consequence of their generally dirty and insanitary
habits and condition. All houses are supplied with
water-closets; 56 drains were examined, tested or
exposed; 997 per cent, of houses drain into the sewers ;
67 rooms were disinfected for ordinary infectious diseases,
9 for Phthisis and Cancer.
Sundry nuisances brought to notice were remedied,
these were chiefly in the nature of smoke nuisance,
refuse accumulations, foul ditches, &c. (45). Thirty-two
yards were repaved or repaired. Referring again to the
difficulty so often experienced in tracing the source of
infection in many cases of infectious sickness, I think
there can be no doubt but that flies, especially the common
house fly, are frequently the carriers of infection
from point to point, and thus occasion outbreaks which
are difficult of explanation in any other way. The nuisance
of these pests in hot weather is obvious, but it
seems proved that they can also become a source of great
danger as carriers of the infectious germs of such diseases
as diarrhoea, enteric, diphtheria, erysipelas, scarlet fever,
and other bacterial diseases, and depositing them on
mucous surfaces and articles of food, liquid or otherwise,
more especially in milk. Scrupulous cleanliness, copious
flushing of yards and drains, with free use of disinfectants,
especially in very hot weather, with prompt removal and
destruction of all animal or vegetable refuse, are some of
the best remedies against these pests.