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101
owners of the house who relaid a drain some 12 feet long, upon a new
concrete foundation, but in its own line and at its own level, leaving one
old pipe undisturbed and using one old and five new pipes, and two
gullies, one old and one new—had executed works which amounted to
a "reconstruction," which made it imperative that the Drainage
B}re-laws should be complied with.
CONDITION OP SEWERS.
Sewer Ventilation.—During 1905, 90 complaints of nuisances caused
by sewer ventilators were received in the Public Health Department.
In considering a memorial from inhabitants in Hillfield Road district
complaining of the nuisance caused by the emanations from the sewer
ventilators in that locality, the Council decided to revive the Special
Committee which had previously reported on the subject to further
investigate the matter. The constitution of the Special Committee is
given on page 140.
On their recommendation the Council decided on 20th July, to spend
a sum not exceeding £50 for the purposes of making a bacteriological
and chemical examination of the air of sewers under their control.
Drs. Andrewes and Hurtley wore entrusted with this investigation
and reported in September : subsequently the Special Committee received
reports from the Borough Engineer and myself and presented their
report, a copy of which will be found in Appendix II. From this report
it will be seen that the matter has been the subject of exhaustive enquiry
on their part.
STAFF OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
The only alteration that has taken place in the Staff is that
necessitated by the death of the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. II.
Littlejohn, which regrettable event took place on September 4th.
To fill the vacancy thus created, the Public Health Committee did
me the honour of appointing me Acting Medical Officer of Health
pending the appointment of a permanent official, and on the 21st
December the Council formally appointed G. F. McCleary, B.A., M.D.,
D.P.H., Medical Officer of Health to the Metropolitan Borough of
Battersea as Medical Officer of Health to this Borough.