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27
With a promptness that was scarcely to be expected, after the
rejection by the Metropolitan Board of more than one well-devised
scheme on the plea of not being in strict conformity with the great
"intercepting project," your Board, upon receiving the above
report, ordered an immediate inspection of the existing sewer, and
a thorough repair of the same wherever required. The inspection
by the local surveyor disclosed a condition of things but little
suspected. Along the entire frontage of a row of cottages exclusively
occupied by working men and their families, and where
scarlet fever was then raging, and had proved fatal to several of the
inmates, there was found a small ill-constructed brick drain, very
much out of repair, and with its inner side, throughout a portion of
its course, actually formed by the foundations of such dwellings!
The consequence of this faulty construction had been, in one house
in particular where two children had died of the fever, that the liquid
soil had, by capillary absorption, so impregnated the external wall
as to be distinctly visible within the cottage, and what was worse,
as plainly to be detected by another sense by persons entering
the dwelling from the fresh air. The wonder is, then, not that
the fever should have invaded such a place, but that it should have
done so little mischief among the swarms of poor children inhabiting
this and the tenements immediately adjoining. A reconstruction
of this defective sewer by the application of drain pipes,
an increased fall, and other improvements, not only effectually
relieved the neighbourhood of a great and disgusting nuisance, but
appeared at once to stay the ravages of disease; for, happily, not a
single fresh case of sickness of any description has since, and down
to the time of publishing this report, come under treatment
amongst the poor children of this locality, and but one (the result
of age) amongst adults.
I should add that private benevolence secured the adoption of
several additional sanitary measures beyond those so promptly and
judiciously executed by the order of your Board, the combined
effect of which upon the health and comfort of the poorer inhabitants
of the hamlet has been of an exceedingly gratifying
character.
Table VI., Appendix, will be found to record the completion in
the sub-district of numerous other sanitary works of importance.
In the carrying out of these improvements there unfortunately
arose three cases for magisterial interference, but in each compulsory
orders were obtained, and the works afterwards satisfactorily
completed.
The several places used as slaughtering houses were also duly
inspected, and found to be furnished with all the requisites insisted
upon in the published regulations of your Board.