78
ers to laymen who have been taught to supervise in their absence. The
excellent arrangements made by Mr. Hewett enabled the work of disin-
fection at the sterilizers to be carried out without a stop or hitch.
Capt. Smith, District Officer, C Ward, gives his experience of the
work of disinfection in his Ward, which was very heavy indeed, in the
following report:—
At the beginning of this year this measure was not what might be called one
of the measures of primary importance in fighting the plague as compared with
inoculation, removal of sick to hospital, evacuation of houses, and segregation of
contacts and evicts. Since the alteration and modification in plague measures it has
become the most important measure of all. Moreover, the way in which disinfection
was carried out was completely altered. The previous method was to pump or throw
dilute solution of Perchloride of Mercury all over the floor walls and ceilings,
cupboards, etc. of the place that was being disinfected. This method was replaced
by the following :—The walls were wetted with dilute Perchoride of Mercury
solution and were well brushed by the coolies of the disinfecting gang as high as
they could reach. The walls were then well flushed with dilute solution. The floor
was also scrubbed in a similar manner and all lofts, cupboards and places which
might have held infected materials, etc., were also done.
The above is the general outline of the procedure followed. The disinfection,
in my openion, was faulty in some respects and did not go far enough. The ceilings
and upper part of the walls were left undone and this was, I consider, a most serious
defect in the present method. I think that the present method of disinfection with
brushes should be continued but that the ceilings and the whole of the walls of
rooms, etc., should be well flushed with the Perchloride of Mercury solution. There
is no doubt that rats, etc., crawl about in the ceilings and on the walls, and leave a
great deal of the plague poison about these places, and as they are not touched by
the present method of disinfection there is no doubt in my mind but that a very
large amount of infectious matter is left in rooms that have been thoroughly disin-
fected according to present methods. I consider disinfection on the lines I have
proposed a measure of the very greatest importance as the Perchloride solution
undoubtedly destroys all plague poison within its reach and so in cases of infected
rooms, etc., removes the cause of infection. I would point out in connection with
this subject that the majority of the people in this Ward sleep on the ground ;
and the ground naturally is the place where rats, etc., run about, and they also
crawl about over the beddings, clothes, etc. of the people. Consequently the people
are very liable to catch the disease from their close proximity to the infected ground,
and also from the way they have of wrapping themselves up in their infected cloth-
ing and breathing air which has chiefly filtered through their infected bed clothes
such as blankets, rezais, etc.
Disinfection by Perchloride of mercury undoubtedly reduces the chances of
infection from the ground to a minimum if it does not altogether destroy the plague
poison ; and the disinfection of beddings, clothes, etc., through the agency of the
sterilizers effectually destroys any plague poison that may have lodged in them.
The present system of disinfection, I have reason to believe, does not meet with ap-
proval in certain quarters, but I think, on the whole, nobody can possibly expect
the absolute scientific accuracy, etc. of the laboratory, hospital, etc., in measures
which are on such a very large and extensive scale, and where the cost of the
aforesaid measures is an item that enters into the calculation. In one direction as
regards disinfection, an improvement could be made so as to ensure the best results,
and that is, in future epidemics, it will be absolutely necessary to have at least