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108
In the hope that the order respecting the drains at No. 38,
London Road, has been given without your authority, and awaiting
your reply,
I am,
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) E. DICKINS.
Dr. G. Millson.
Medical Officer of Health in reply to Mr. Dickins.
(Copy).
Borough of Southwark.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall, Walwokth Road,
24th November, 1906.
Dear Sir,
38, London Road.
I think that you have magnified this matter of the uncovering of
the drain of the above house. You are justified at looking at it from
the landlord's point of view. We, of course, are equally justified in
looking at it from a Public Health point of view. We have reasonable
grounds for calling in question the soundness of the drain. It is an
old drain. It is unventilated and not intercepted. It has been
reported upon, after a test by the sanitary inspector, as being suspiciously
unsound. We have no desire to proceed under Section 40
of the Public Health Act if that is offensive to you. We are quite
disposed to leave the uncovering of the drain to you, and for us to
have the opportunity of inspecting it when uncovered. We consider
that, as health officers, it is essential to have the condition of the
drain thoroughly ascertained. I acknowledge all that you have said
in regard to the Estate and the goodness of Lord Llangattock, but
after all we must revert to what is right in the interests of Public
Health. If you do decide to have the drain uncovered we must ask
for that to be done without any delay.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) G. B. MILLSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
E. J. Dickins, Esq.,
155, Old Kent Eoad, S.E.