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26
In addition to these improvements, the three District Inspectors
reported that dust was required to be removed from 1,862 houses,
this number not being included in the removals ordered as the result
of the work of the Inspector of Dust, which is stated in the note at
the bottom of the table.
I find that the work shown in the table generally contrasts
favourably with the work of former years, more particularly when
we remember the immense amount of extra work entailed by the
severe epidemic of small-pox, which so suddenly appeared amongst
us about the middle of September, 1876.
The number of disinfections, 939, were three times more
numerous than those of the previous year, and four times more than
those of the year before; but the examination and destruction of
infected beds and bedding also involved work which not only is not
tabulated here, but which necessarily tended to diminish rather than
to increase the work usually enumerated in both portions of this
table.
By the authority of the Sanitary Committee, carbolic acid was
again used as in previous years in the watering of some of the
streets during the summer. A much greater quantity of carbolic
acid was however necessary, its use being extended over
a much larger area. Upon the appearance of the small-pox
the streets which were most seriously affected in the Thornhill
Ward were watered constantly with the solution, and this was
continued daily for some time after the usual termination of the
watering season ; in fact, until the abatement of the disease in that
particular locality.
M'Dougall's powder was also used in the hottest and driest
part of the season in the courts, and two bags of 1 cwt. each were
supplied every week for use in connection with the Sunday morning
cleansing of the channels of the Essex, Caledonian, and Holloway
Roads, where these thoroughfares are occupied as market-places
until very late on Saturday night.
SUMMONSES, 1876-77.
During the year ending 25th March, 1877, thirteen summonses
were issued by direction of the Sanitary Committee. In one of the