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31
SANITARY INSPECTION OF NEW HOUSES.
The necessity of sanitary inspection of new houses before occupation,
was strikingly illustrated by a case that came under my
notice in the month of September. A gentleman who occupied a
newly-built residence, complained of constant bad smells, the
origin of which baffled research for some little time. At last it
was discovered that the plumbers in putting up the best W.C.,
had carried a lead pipe from the soil pipe, below the D trap, into
the tray which is usually provided to receive any trifling overflow.
This pipe was completely open, and admitted the foul smells from
the soil pipe, the drains generally, and the main sewer into the
house. It is simply marvellous that this extraordinary arrangement
did not cause serious illness—it might have been, and in some
seasons probably would have been, the cause of fatal disease. It
is sad to contemplate the amount of preventible illness that arises
from mere structural defects in our houses, and which, as regards
new houses, might be prevented if they were not suffered to be inhabited
until certified by competent authority to be in a fit condition.
ARTIZANS' & LABOURERS' DWELLINGS ACT, 1868.
Having inspected certain houses in Thomas Street and Thomas
Mews, the Potteries, Notting-dale, and finding them unfit for
human habitation, by reason of their dilapidated, dirty and generally
unwholesome condition, I gave a certificate to that effect to your
Clerk pursuant to the provisions of the above named Act. One
or two of the said houses remain in the same condition: others
have been repaired or pulled down. Many of the houses in the
locality are miserable places, badly constructed, incapable of
being made decently habitable, and might with advantage be
dealt with under the Act.
BATH CHAIRS.
The use of Bath Chairs on the foot-ways being illegal, it was
formerly the custom to take proceedings against offending wheelchairmen.
The hardship of compelling invalids to ride in the roadway
having been taken into consideration, your Vestry passed a
resolution to the effect that the Inspectors were "not to interfere
with invalids, certified as such by me, using Bath Chairs when such
did not cause any obstruction or inconvenience to foot passengers."
A considerable number of persons have applied to me for the quasi
permission to use their chairs on the foot-ways implied in the above
extract from the resolution passed on the 22nd November, 1872,
and it has been given in each case when accompanied by a Certificate
from the medical attendant of the applicant. The effect of
the resolution however, has been wider than expected, for no