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six millions, was concisely summarised in a tabular form.*
From the replies received, it appeared that sewers are ventilated
mainly by gratings in the road surface, but also, in part,
by special shafts, columns, chimneys, &c. Street gullies in
most of the towns are trapped, usually by syphons. At Birmingham
there are many untrapped gullies which, however,
are being changed as fast as possible. Glasgow is the most
notable instance of a large town with untrapped gullies, few
being trapped at present; but "all new gullies are to have a
water seal." In London the sewers are generally ventilated by
open gratings in the roadway, but many ventilating shafts exist;
and, as already stated, the County Council intend to increase
the ventilation of their main sewers upon this plan, which, it
is to be presumed, will be largely followed in connection with
the new main sewers about to be constructed at a cost of
three millions. This system might be adopted with advantage
in connection with sewers under the control of the sanitary
authorities. As regards drains, the inquiry elicited the
fact that they are intercepted from the houses by syphon traps,
constructed "under regulations or bye-laws" made by the
sanitary authorities. In London intercepting traps are
employed very generally, as we learn from a return issued by
the Battersea Vestry in 1894, summarising replies by the
local authorities to a series of questions—mainly, with
reference to the utility of inspection chambers, which, it
appears, are in general use, being in the opinion of the said
authorities necessary or desirable.
street Gullies.—With respect to street gullies, the
more frequent cause of complaint of offensive smells in this
parish, valuable information is contained in a report by your
* "Summary of replies received from cities, boroughs, &c.,to enquiries addressed
to them on the subject of sewer ventilation and sewer smells." The
summary was reproduced in the pages of Public Health. the organ of the Society
of Medical Officers of Health. The report of the sanitary committee on the
subject of the enquiry is in the minutes of the Vestry for 26th July, 1899, page 358.