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77
Public The attention of the Sanitary Committee was
Schools
and their directed early in the year to the alleged insanitary
condition. condition of many of the public elementary schools
in the parish, more especially where zymotic diseases had been
reported to be unusually prevalent in the houses and families of
children attending such schools.
A general inspection of these schools was ordered and the
results of such inspection of some of the largest elementary
schools are here given.
In January the Chief Sanitary Inspector upon instructions
submitted a report relative to flooding of the drains of Gideon
Road Board School, owing to surcharge of Heathwall sewer,
which passes through the grounds of this school. He
subsequently reported upon the same matter upon the occurrence
of several cases of scarlet fever in children attending this school
and found that the offensive smells experienced from the drains
during heavy rains were due to the fact that the pressure of
sewer gas was so great as to force the water seals of the traps in
connection with the sanitary appliances. The necessary works
were executed to prevent repetition of the nuisance.
The Holden Street Board School was also specially reported
upon in January as being in a bad sanitary condition, the attention
of the School Board for London was drawn to the fact and
the drains and sanitary fittings have since been entirely reconstructed
upon plans approved by the Sanitary Committee.
The St. John's Training College, Vicarage Road.—These
drains were found to be in a most defective and insanitary condition.
The Governors of the College have reconstructed the
entire system, except the latrines, these they have decided to do
a little later on.
The drains and sanitary conveniences at the Grammar
School, St. John's Hill, were found upon inspection to be in a