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68
Sanitary Proceedings, &c.—In table IV. appendix will be
found a statement of the sanitary operations carried out in
this sub.district. One of the most important subjects which
engaged our attention during the prevalence of Diphtheria
was the ventilation of the sewers. The presence of noxious
gases in the sewers, especially after a period of drought
is the great danger of our present system of sewage disposal.
When a heavy rainfall occurs this gas must be displaced
from the sewer, and unless that be provided with the means
of egress the foul air must find its way through the drains
and traps into the houses connected with it. The present
system of street ventilators is intended to obviate this
difficulty, but I doubt not the time will come when this will
be looked upon as a rude and somewhat dangerous method.
In the meantime of two evilswe have chosen the lesser, and we
are not likely to get a better system of ventilation until the
British taxpayer is willing to pay a very large price for his
immunity from sewer gas poisoning.
The removal of dust, &c. is a matter of great Sanitary
importance. It is to be regretted that we have not yet
adopted the method practised in many cities and towns, viz;
The daily removal of refuse from the street doors. This
would get rid of the dangers and annoyance of the hideous
dust-bins.
An equally important subject is the sanitary arrangement
of private dwelling.houses. In many cases abundant cause
is to be found for epidemic disease in some innocent looking
apparatus for convenience or cleanliness with its fatal connection
with the drain. The communication of stack pipes
with the drain is frequently overlooked, regardless of the fact
that they act as ventilators, and may convey the sewer gas
into a window. A disused water.closet is often turned into a
cloak.room or lumber.room, and the water in the trap dried
up by evaporation. Insufficiently trapped or altogether