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house as meaning any inhabitable building, including any yard, garden, outhouse,
etc., includes the site of the dwelling house. The importance of covering
a site with cement concrete is far more considerable than is generally supposed.
In Sir George Buchanan's report on the distribution of consumption as affected
by dampness of soil, it is shown that wetness of the ground is a cause of
consumption to the population living upon it. It has long been known that
residence on a damp subsoil favours the prevalence of chest complaints, hence
it is necessary to concrete sites if only on the score of dampness. The other
reasons are that the air drawn into rooms by means of fires from beneath the
floors may contain a large quantity of watery vapour, carbonic acid, and other
gases from leaky drains or cesspools, and coal gas from a distance. In your
district, where the subsoil is chiefly clay, it is most important for health that
all sites of dwelling houses should be covered with some impervious material. I
have previously had occasion to mention the fact that rheumatism and rheumatic
diseases are prevalent throughout the district, and are probably in a great measure
due to damp houses.
The question has been discussed by your Authority as to the
advantages or otherwise to health of drains passing under houses.
Authorities are generally agreed that no drains should pass under houses
where it is possible to lay them outside. In some cases it is necessary to lay
drains under houses. In these every possible precaution should be taken to
render joints of pipes perfect; to lay pipes on concrete and to surround them
with concrete. The drains should be laid in straight lines, with an inspection
chamber and intercepting trap. In laying drains under houses, the advantages
in using iron pipes with joints caulked with lead are that iron pipes are cast in
twelve feet lengths, whereas stoneware pipes are cast in two feet lengths.
Consequently there are not so many joints, and the joints are probably made
more perfect in the iron pipes. Unfortunately iron pipes cost more than
twice as much as stoneware. A well known Authority writing on this subject
says:—"With perfectly constructed and well ventilated house-drains, the evils
of carrying drains through or under houses are more imaginary than real."
The remarkably healthy state of London is pointed to as very conclusive evidence
that no great evils arise from carrying sewers under houses, as nearly every
house in London has a drain under it. If your Authority should desire that
no houses should be allowed to be erected with a drain passing under it, then
your Authority has the power to amend the bye-laws relating to new
buildings so as to retain certain spaces about buildings, and where these spaces
exist at the sides of buildings the drainage can be brought through them without
passing under.
The following amongst many Acts of Parliament are in force in
your District.
Public Health Act, 1875, and various Acts relating to Health incorporated
therein.
Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890 and 1893, Part III. of which
has been adopted by your Council.
Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1890.
Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1890, Part III. of which has been
adopted by your Council.
Infectious Diseases Prevention Act, 1890.
Infectious Diseases( Notification) Act 1889.
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act.