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75
House Refuse.—The bye-laws of the London County Council
made under the Public Health (London) Act require the removal
of the house refuse from all premises not less frequently than once
a week. In Clerkenwell this cleansing has been under the supervision
of the Surveyor, and has been regularly done. Its efficiency
of course depends largely upon the willing co-operation of the
house-holders and, on the whole, it may be said that this cooperation
has been rendered. The dust-bins or dust-boxes
throughout the district have been emptied weekly, and in courts
or sets of buildings common to many families, bi-weekly. All the
refuse has been carted to the wharf and when requisite it has
been burned in the Destructor. It was at one time the custom to
sprinkle carbolic powder in the dustbin after emptying but this has
recently been discarded as non-efficacious. I am glad to report
that fixed dust-bins or brick bins are becoming rare. Metal dustbins,
easily movable and having a metal cover, are now very
largely used. They are not only much more cleanly but materially
lighten the work of the dustmen. During 1900 orders were issued
from this department for 149 new metal dust-bins and 102 dustbins
were repaired.
I view the matter of rapid and effectual removal of refuse and
dust and the satisfactory cleansing of the streets, particularly in
the months of July and August, as of the greatest importance. The
relationship between bad scavenging and disease is an intimate
one, and there can be no doubt that a well scavenged town, other
things being equal, will be characterised by a lower infantile death
rate and a lower zymotic death-rate than that which will occur in
a dusty and badly scavenged town.
For particulars as to other nuisances in which action was taken,
reference may be made to the following reports of the Sanitary
Inspectors and the legal proceedings.