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148
streets swarm with children. The sewers are ventilated
by shafts opening on the road level in the centre of the
carriage way. Over the opening of these shafts the
children congregate and inhale any noxious gases which
escape. In Gwalior Road a gully man-hole at the side of
the foothpath was found to have its water seal broken and
communicated direct with the sewer. The occupants
of the neighbouring houses complained of very offensive
smells arising from this grating. On testing the drains
of the nearest house the fumes from the drain tester
were strongly smelt arising from this gully.
The water supply of the houses in Gwalior Road, was
found to be defective. The general plan adopted was
the following:- One cistern was used, divided in the
centre by a partition and covered over by a common lid.
One half of the cistern contained the water which
supplied the watercloset. The other half supplied water
for drinking purposes. The connection between the
cistern and w.c. was effected by means of a lever and
plug arrangement as formerly used in the old pan
closets. The result of this method was that every time
the w.c. was flushed out an escape of gas bubbled up
from it through the water in the cistern.. The foul air
was prevented from escaping by the lid cover and got
gradually reabsorbed by the drinking water.
As the result of my inquiries, however, in regard to all
the cases notified, I was compelled to come to the conclusion
that, after making allowance for the injurious results of
these sanitary defects, the majority of the cases were due
to personal infection. I was confident that there were
cases of children suffering from mild diphtheria, in regard
to whom no precautions were taken, and for whom no
medical aid was called in. The infection was either
spread from one to another during school hours or while
playing together in the streets.