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136
Medical Officers of Health Annual Report.
39 cases of overcrowding were abated, an increase
of 22 compared with 1896. This increased number is due
to the fact that the inspectors have devoted more of
their time to house-to-house inspection in those localities
where such overcrowding would be likely to occur. With
the exception of one case, they were all remedied without
proceeding to prosecution.
In one case, however, proceedings were taken, and
a conviction with £1 Is. cosls obtained. The same
occupier had been previously summoned, and a penalty
inflicted. This house is now on the register of houses
let in lodgings.
239 drains were relaid, nnd in all these, the regulations
of the Board were carried out, and the drains
when completed were water tested. 827 drains were
cleansed and repaired and in a large proportion of these
the smoke test was used to ascertain if any defect existed
after repair. The disconnection of bath wastes, lavatory
wastes, and rain-water pipes, show a marked diminution,
this being largely due to the fact that few of these are
now connected with drains, most of them having been
altered in previous years. The number of waterclosets
cleansed and repaired was 486, compared with 147 in
1896, and 398 in 1895. In the report for 1896, I gave
three reasons why these numbers show a tendency to
increase. The number of unclassified nuisances dealt with
was 245, compared with 493 in 1896. The other
particulars in this table do not require comment, but it
is again necessary to draw attention to the fact that
although 389 statutory notices were served by order of
the Board, in only 7 was it necessary to take proceedings
at the Police Court compared with 12 in 1896.
The following are the particulars of these seven
cases:—