View report page

83
is ample evidence that the matter received careful and prolonged
consideration before the conclusions in the Report were arrived at.
The conclusions briefly are:—
(1) That the systematic ventilation of sewers is of secondary
importance.
(2) That sewer gas is offensive in smell, but is not injurious
upon bacteriological or epidemiological grounds.
(3) That in some circumstances the intercepting trap might
with advantage be omitted from the drain.
(4) That where a permanently sound drain is required iron
pipes should be used.
With the last of these conclusions I am in entire accord, and it is
gratifying to know that the policy which has been pursued in Hampstead
for the last ten years of insisting upon all drains which pass under
buildings being constructed of iron has been amply justified by the
enquiries of the Committee.
It is one of the powers and duties of the Council to decide of what
material a drain shall be constructed, and the question must be seriously
considered as to whether, now that the reliability of iron pipes has been
so thoroughly established, they should not be insisted upon throughout.
All drains have to stand the same tests, and it is therefore equally
important that the drain once laid down should be uniformly capable of
resisting those accidents and influences which cause drains to become
defective. The chief difficulties with regard to the use of iron pipes,
viz.—of obtaining at short notice any parts or appliances which might
be required during the progress of the work, has been overcome by the
large and varied stocks which all the Builders' Merchants now keep.
I am also assured that when all things are taken into consideration
the actual cost of iron over earthenware does not exceed fifteen per cent.,
an additional expenditure which is more than justified by the results
obtained.
The third conclusion is somewhat difficult to reconcile with the
principles of hygiene which sanitarians have been advocating for the
last half century.
In regard to Hampstead and large towns and cities generally, the
suggestion that the intercepting traps can be omitted from drains is