View report page

248
1912]
REMOVAL OF DUST.
The removal of the household refuse of a district is one of the utmost
importance, as failure in this respect might have very serious results. It is,
therefore, satisfactory to note that, as a rule, this work is very well carried
out, and that so few complaints are received from the public. There is,
however, a growing opinion among sanitarians and other persons interested
in the health of the community that this refuse should be removed every day
if possible, but most certainly not less than twice every week. The Medical
Officer of Health has great sympathy with this view, as there can be no doubt
that, owing to the decrease in the number of coal fires in kitchens for cooking,
and the increase of gas cookers, the opportunity of destroying putrescible
matter decreases. Of course, he knows very well that a state of absolute perfection
in this as well as other subluminary matters cannot be obtained, but
it is the clear duty of sanitary authorities to endeavour to keep their districts
as clean as they possibly can. The large increase of late years in the number
of restaurants to which so many people resort for their meals has to a certain
extent decreased the accumulation of putrescible matter in the homes; while
on the other hand it has created new centres where refuse is accumulated in
large quantities, from which it should undoubtedly be removed every day*
The question of course, is one entirely of cost; but, at the same time, this
should not be the single factor to decide whether the more frequent removal
of house refuse should be adopted. So far as the actual performance of the
work is concerned, there is no doubt that in Islington it is creditably done,
and that from 1891 to the present there has been a steady improvement in
the work of the staff engaged in the removal of the household refuse.
The number of applications for the removal of refuse received since 1891,
has steadily decreased, so that whereas in that year they numbered 10,138, they
only amounted in 1912 to 47, which is, of course, an insignificant figure.

Dust Receptacles Provided.—During the year 1,420 dust receptacles
were provided, while 43 were repaired
* Vide Mrs. Young's Report, p. 222.