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untrapped or imperfectly trapped inlets at sinks, &c., and stoppages in
closets, rat-holes, communications with old brick drains, emanations from
horse-dung left to ferment in mews, &c., and from heaps of house refuse
deposited and sorted by one of your dust contractors (Mr. Winn) in
the neighbourhood of inhabited residences, and also to the domestic use
of water from cisterns foul from long neglect of cleansing. Most of
these causes of disease are within the control of householders themselves;
and in decent houses it might have been reasonably expected that they
would have been guarded against. It is for the Vestry, however, to
insist upon the dust contractors not breaking through their agreement
by making shoots within this parish. As regards accumulations of
dung, I have something more to say. It is not the large but the small
accumulations of dung which are proving most dangerous to the public
health; and the reason is, that, while it is worth the while of a contractor
to remove the former frequently, the latter are left day after day to
ferment, until a sufficient load has collected. It is true that when
mischief results we can demand the removal of the accumulation, but
this is a very inefficient remedy, and the more so because the accumulation
immediately re-commences. The only effectual remedy that I know
of as applicable under the existing circumstances, would be the exercise
of the power of collecting manure, given to the Vestry by the 95th
clause of the 25 & 26 Vic., c. 102. This will require the consent of
the owners of the dung, and from inquiries I have had made among
small cowkeepers, butchers, &c., I apprehend no difficulty will be
experienced on this score, since many of them have stated that they
would regard such a proceeding as a boon. Nor have I any doubt
that private owners, keeping one or two horses in mews, &c. would also
readily give their consent. At all events I would press upon the Vestry
the importance, at the present time, of ascertaining, by an extended
inquiry, how far such a proceeding would be acceptable, and then,
should the result be favourable, of adopting the course I propose.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
January 6th, 1866.