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dangerous infectious disease has appeared, who have been compelled to leave
their dwellings for the purpose of enabling such dwellings to be disinfected by
the Sanitary Authority.
I brought this subject to the notice of your Sanitary Committee, as such
accommodation was often wanted in tenements where there had been smallpox,
and during the epidemics of scarlet fever and diphtheria,
Several houses were inspected by the Committee, but suitable accommodation
in the district, unfortunately, could not be obtained.
Meanwhile the Vestry of Clerkenwell had furnished its shelter at 47,
Northampton Road, and supplied sleeping accommodation. The Committee
therefore decided to try and make arrangements for the joint use of this
shelter. These arrangements were not completed till this year, and the
contract came into force March 25 th, 1896.
REMOVAL OF HOUSE REFUSE.
During the six months ending December 31st, 1895, 805 complaints and
notices for the removal of house refuse were received and attended to.
During the first six months there were 1309, making 2114 complaints during
the year.
I have found that this method is most unsatisfactory, for I have often
seen large quantities of offensive refuse that had been accumulating for several
weeks. Many of the old dust-bins are very large, and frequently the occupiers
will not give notice for the removal of the refuse until the dust-bin is full.
I am glad that the Board has made a new contract, which came into
operation on the 25th March, 1896. This provides for the removal of house
refuse at least once a week, as the following extracts show :—
" The men employed by the Contractor shall, once in every week at the
" least, at a reasonable time in the day, visit every street, square, place, court,
" and alley in the district, and call at each and every house or premises in
" the district, including every separate tenement in buildings let in flats, or
" buildings known as artizans' or model dwellings, and take away and secure
" the removal of the house refuse therefrom, and shall cleanse out and empty
" all ashpits, earth-closets, privies, and cesspools (if any), and take away all
" the said house refuse, whether deposited in dust-bins or otherwise, without
" fee or reward ; and the same shall be done before ten o'clock in the fore
" noon when required by the inhabitants. This part of the contract is to be