London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1897

Report upon the public health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Battersea...

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92
"Waste-pipes from Slop-Closets or Slop-Sinks.—These are in all
cases inside the buildings, and have top ventilation ; they are all
of cast-iron, of light rain water pipe section, with ordinary red
lead joints. This class of pipe does not admit of a reliable and
air-tight joint being made, as they are not intended to be used
for the purposes of internal foul wastes. Very careful smoke
tests were made with these pipes in the two northern turrets;
the general results were much better than one would have
anticipated; but a serious defect was found in the cistern
chamber of the north-west tower, caused by defective joints in
positions where access for repair was practically impossible. As
indicating the superiority of lead over iron pipes for internal
wastes, I may point out that similar defects were not detected in
the cistern-room of the north-eastern turret, and upon examination
it was found that, in that case, the pipe running through the
cistern-room was of lead. I cannot but feel that these internal
iron pipes are not only insanitary but dangerous, and I should
recommend their being replaced by strong iron pipes placed
externally with proper arrangements for anti-syphonage."
"Water Supply to W.C's &c.—With a few exceptions, the
whole of the W. C's and slop-sinks are supplied direct from the
drinking water cisterns; this is an unsatisfactory and, indeed,
dangerous arrangement, and should be altered."
"Anti-Syphonage.—At present, no provision is made in any
way to guard against syphonage and consequent unsealing of
traps. Such provision is undoubtedly necessary in the case of
W.C.'s or slop-sinks standing singly one above another, the only
exception being, as previously described, where there are ranges
of three or four closets together upon the same floor, where I
found it quite impossible to unseal the traps of the lower W.C.'s."
"Soil-Pipes and W.C.'s.—The soil-pipes are of cast iron, fixed
externally, trapped at foot, and top ventilated, with fresh air inlet
and Mica flap. With two exceptions, these W.C.'s are the
"Household " pattern with flushing cisterns."