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directly into the sewer, render it more than ever important to
look well to the main sewera, so that exhalations from them may bo
diminished to the utmost possible extent. A copious supply of water
is one of the most important means of securing this end. It is
especially necesary that'all the water-closets be really, and not in name
only, wafer-closets, with an ample supply of water always laid on.
There appears to be great difficulty in effectually trapping the
sewers, and it is of course folly to attempt to trap all the entries, in
consequence of the necessity of a supply of air in the sewers, and
the risk of foul air forcing its way into private houses. Those
gullies situated in crowded courts and culs-de-sac, where there is no
free circulation of air, should, however, be in all cases carefully
guarded. There can be no doubt that very many of the stinking
gullies depend on a badly-acting sewer, in which the slope or form is
defective, or through which from some causc the flow of fluid is
impeded. The possibility of ventilating sewers has often been
discussed, and is a question of great importance, but is one on
the practical details of which I do not at present feel competent to
give an opinion.
REMOVAL OF DUST.
The arrangements made for this purpose do not yet work nearly
so well as could be desired. There are constant complaints made
that the dustmen refuse to remove it from the houses of the poor
unless they are paid for their trouble. The effect of this is that the
dust-bin becomes full, and the refuse is then scattered about the yard,
in the back kitchen, or cellar, where the vegetable and animal matter
is allowed to rot.
I trust that some measures will be devised by the Committee
of "Works by which this evil may be remedied. If the penalties to
which the dustman is liable for neglect of duty were rigidly enforced,
there would in a short time be a great improvement.
PAVING AND SURFACE DRAINAGE.
The condition of roads, especially in narrow and crowded
streets, exercises an important influence on health. "Where the paving
is bad, water with animal and vegetable refuse remains in holes, and
gives off pestilential effluvia, which exercise a very depressing effect
on the human constitution.
There are two' streets, Haverstock and Hethersett Streets, on
which I have several times reported, where, from the want of surface
drainage, the health of the inhabitants is suffering. In the neighbourhood
of St. Jude's Church, Gray's Inn Lane, the roads are in a
fearful state; as also in Agar Town, and there is no doubt that the