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253
cleansing alike. The Sanitary Authority has no control over
the placing of cisterns, hut the Water Companies might, if so
minded, remedy the evil complained of, viz., under the 13th
Regulation, which provides that "Every cistern
shall be properly covered, and placed in such a
position that it may be inspected and cleansed."
All that relates to water supply has great interest for me,
and the deterioration of water in dirty cisterns has been
frequently referred to in my reports. I was glad, therefore,
that the subject had been brought to the notice of the Local
Government Board, to whose communication a reply was sent,
calling their attention to the necessity for such an alteration
in the law as should give Sanitary Authorities co-ordinate
power with the companies to enforce the regulations, and so
enable them to give effect to the views of the (late) Water
Examiner. The Board, however, took no action in the matter.
ABOLITION OF WASTE-PIPES.
In a Memorandum by the Medical Officer to the Board,
on "Precautions against Cholera," adverted to in my Report
for 1883, it was advised that "any connections of waste-pipes of
cisterns with drains should be severed." This advice being accordant
with the views of your Vestry, advantage was taken of the
opportunity it afforded to draw attention, once again, to the
imperfections of the law, and of the water regulations. Communications
were addressed to the Board, to the Vestries, and
to the local Waterworks Companies. The Board were informed
that your Vestry, being sensible of the value of the advice
given, fully concurred with the Water Examiner, that if
Regulation 14 were "carried out in its integrity," it would
"prevent contamination of the water from the gases generated by
sewage.'' Request, therefore, was made that the Board should
take steps to secure the severance of all connections of waste-