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81
scientiously hold their hands by examining and testing
as few drains as possible, but must accept their responsibility.
In this connection, there is a growing feeling
that in regard to new buildings, each house should be
required to have a separate drain so as to avoid any future
difficulty. This feeling, on behalf of a Sanitary Authority,
is readily understood, but it must also be remembered that,
in certain conditions, a combined system of drainage is the
best sanitarily, as by such means no drains are allowed to
pass under buildings—a sanitary desideratum. As regards
Lambeth, both the Surveyor and the Medical Officer reported
in favour of combined drainage under certain conditions
(i.e., drains outside), and their opinions were endorsed by a
majority of the Vestry, the Clerk pointing out the legal
conditions under which such combined drainages could be
carried out without any future trouble necessarily arising
for the Vestry. The majority of Metropolitan Districts
allow, and approve of, combined drainage under certain
conditions.
The special work in connection with disinfection, smoke
abatement, houses let in lodgings, and the carrying out of
the Food and Drugs and Margarine Acts, is dealt with
on pp. 82-99.
Several important seizures of unsound food were made
by the Inspectors during the year as follow:—
1. 74 sheep's plucks, 376 kidneys, and 7 pieces of
pork were seized on a stall in the roadway
outside 66, Lower Marsh, and 33 sheep's
plucks under the same stall, condemned by
the Magistrate as being unfit for the food of
man, and ordered to be destroyed; the Vendor
did not appear to the Summons and a warrant
was issued for his arrest.
F