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106
notice, a note is printed,* which gi\es the person liable for
the abatement of the nuisance an opportunity of making what,
for convenience, may be called an "appeal" to the Committee
against the requirements of the Sanitary Inspector and the
Sanitary Committee respectively. I confess that I regarded
the introduction of these notes with some apprehension,
fearing that they might be used for dilatory purposes. My
fears, however, have not been realised, for " appeals " are very
rare, and, when made, they generally take the form of an
application for an extension of time; so that sanitary administration
has not been hindered by a procedure which might,
perhaps, be not incorrectly described as a little irregular.
Reconstruction and Trapping of House Drains.—
Reference was made in the annual report for 1885 (pages
83-88), to difficulties, with respect to the issue of notices for
the trapping of house drains and the reconstruction of
drains found on examination to be defective. The difficulties
still continue, and during the past year little work was
done by the Inspectors in these directions. As regards
trapping, the Sanitary Committee still act upon the view that
they have no power to require an existing drain to be dis-
* On the new form of written intimation, the note, printed in red,
reads as follows:—"I, the above named- Sanitary Inspector, shall, if
the above nuisance is not abated, report the existence thereof to the Works
and Sanitary Committee at their next meeting, and shall recommend such
Committee to require you to execute the works specified over-leaf as necessary
for its abatement, and to prevent its recurrence. If you have any objections
to urge, and will state them, forthwith, in writing to the Medical Officer
of Health, they will be duly considered by the Works and Sanitary Committee."
The note on the Statutory Notice is to the following effect;—" If
the person liable to abate the nuisance referred to herein has any objections
to urge with reference to the requirements of the Vestry, and will state them,
forthwith, in writing to the Medical Officer of Health, they will be duly
considered by the Works and Sanitary Committee." It may be mentioned
that in regard to many of "the requirements" of a Sanitary Authority,
as set out in their notices, there is a right of " appeal;" but it is to the
London County Council, under the provisions of several of the sections of the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891.