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90
The question of appointing a female Sanitary Inspector
was adjourned for six months by the Vestry at their meeting
held on April 28th, 1898 (Vide Minutes, 1898, p. 819).
The Vestry is now equipped with a good Inspectorial
Staff of 13 Sanitary Inspectors (one of whom is engaged
indoors), and the good work that they are carrying out is
beginning to tell on the sanitary state of the Parish
generally, and more especially of the Inner Wards, the
courts and alleys and houses of which are in a much better
state, owing to more constant supervision and inspection.
In connection with the poorer disticts, it is found that
inspections, to be of use, must be made as frequently as
possible—the majority of the tenants being careless in
the matter of domestic cleanliness, whether as regards
themselves or their surroundings. In this connection much
good is accruing, and will further accrue, from the smallness
of the districts allotted now to the different Inspectors
who take charge of the so-called Inner Wards.
Many house-to-house inspections have taken place
during the year 1898, in those parts of the Parish where
such inspections have been thought to be necessary, eg.,
more especially these courts and alleys of the Inner
Wards. Drains are tested in all cases, and it is satisfactory
to note the comparatively small percentage (under
20) of houses in which the test gives a result. It must
be remembered, however, that the method of testing
with chemical, though satisfactory, is not infallible, and
consequently, when a result is obtained, the drains are
certainly defective, but when a result is not obtained, it
would be unwise to conclude that therefore the drains are
perfect. Local conditions, state of atmosphere, wind, etc.,
play an important part at times, interfering with proper