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SUGGESTIONS
FOR THE BETTER CONSTRUCTION OF
DWELLING HOUSES.
By GEORGE ROSS, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for St. Giles' District.
The subsoil of every area intended for the erection of dwelling-houses
thereon, should be properly drained before the buildings are begun.
If the soil be clay, it should be burnt, and a layer laid down to improve
the drainage, and purify foul waters.
The entire site of every dwelling-house should be covered with
concrete, Portland cement, or other impermeable material.
The footings of every house should stand upon concrete.
Every wall should have a damp-proof course of slate, asphalte, or
otherwise.
No staircase should be less than 3 feet wide, with proper openings
for ventilation, and should be always external to the rooms.
No habitable room should be less than 9 feet in height, or less than
150 feet superficial area. It should be provided with a window at
least 16 square feet in size, and a fire-place.
Every room in a basement, having an external wall and provided
with a window and fire-place, should have an open area from 6 inches
below the flooring along the whole length of the external wall, and at
least 4 feet wide. The ceiling of such room should be at least twothirds
of the height of the room above the top of the area wall, or
surface of pavement of street. The surface of the said area should be
covered with cement concrete.
Every house intended for human habitation, unless every room can
be lighted and ventilated from a street or open space, should have an