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and old drains re-laid. Two hundred and twenty-five of
such drains were laid compared with 80 last year. This
new drain inspection work is, I consider, one of the most
important sanitary operations carried on by the Board.
Each new drain now laid is thoroughly inspected and
tested with the water test before being passed by the
inspector. This work takes up a great deal of time. The
importance and necessity of it, however, cannot be over
estimated when one considers the way in which house
drains were formerly laid down. Six hundred and nintyseven
notices were served to remedy defects, but in only
74 cases, statutory notices were served.
Sulphur fumigation and disinfection was carried out
in 58 premises and in no cases did the disease recur
after this was carried out.
Factory and Workshop Acts, 1878 and 1891.—The
order issued by the Secretary of State under these Acts
makes it obligatory on the sanitary authority to ascertain
all these out-workers employed in this district. The
order did not come into practical operation during the
year 1892. To carry it out efficiently a great amount
of additional work will be thrown on the staff, periodical
inspections will require to be made of the houses
of these out-workers. Of course many of them will live
in districts outside our sanitary area. Lists of such
outworkers must therefore be sent to the sanitary
authority of the districts where they reside. The value
of this order will be very great especially as a means of
preventing the spread of infectious disease. With
tailors' work more especially, it is admitted that infectious
disease is not infrequently communicated. By
the compulsory notification of disease, assisted by this
order, it will be possible to put an end to this source of
danger in future