View report page

19
should be subordinated to the public good. The Building Act, which requires
that all houses, recently built, shall have a hundred square feet in the rear
or at the side, does not provide sufficient security for health.
Sewers. 82. New Sewers have been constructed during the year in the
following streets and courts:—lied Lion-yard, Denmark-place, Wild-court,
Stacey-street, Lumber-court, and Lloyd's-court.
83. I beg to suggest with reference to new Sewers (and the suggestion
applies equally to old Sewers) that a much larger number of ventilators
should be made in them, down the centres of the streets, than is customary,
The bad smells and noxious effluvia emanating from Sewers are best
corrected by free dilution with air. It is the stagnation of the gases in
Sewers that causes their offensiveness. If the gases could be freely diluted,
and their escape facilitated as soon as they were formed, the injury they are
likely to cause would be very much reduced. No plan, however costly, that
I have yet heard or read of, is calculated to be successful unless this free
dilution be provided for.
81. At the same time all the gully-holes at the edge of the pavement,
for receiving the surface-drainage, should be trapped, and be provided with a
disinfecting apparatus, so that there could be no escape through them of
offensive gases. A chief cause of annoyance and injury would thus bo
prevented. All sewers and drains should be egg-shaped, with the narrowest
end at the base, to facilitate the flow of the sewage. Further—if all the
gas-lamps received their supply of air from the sewers, there can be little
doubt that the drains and sewers would be well ventilated, and a great good
would be obtained at the least expense.
Bad Food. 85. During the year there have been seized 18 parcels of
fruit, 18 of fish, 7 of potted head, 3 of German sausages, 7 of cooked meat,
&c., and 2 crates of cauliflowers; altogether, 55 parcels.
The importance of the duties performed by your Sanitary Officers is
made obvious by this detail of works accomplished. How much suffering
has been prevented, and how many lives saved, by the prompt application of
sanitary regulations, cannot be readily expressed in figures, like the diseases
and deaths that occur in spite of our efforts; but we may be assured of this,
that a large amount of mortality is produced by the noxious causes we arc
engaged in removing ; and although our successes in this warfare with deadly
influences, may not be calculable, they are not less real. Further experience
may enable us to speak with more precision, even as to these negative facts,
and then we shall be able to see some return for our labours.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Tour obedient Servant,
GEORGE ROSS, M. D.,
Medical Officer of Health, St. Giles District.