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35
SECTION C
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AREA
The Chief Public Health Inspector reports as follows:-
"SANITATION WITH SANITARY ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT."
"The early history of sanitation can be said to have commenced
in biblical times and the laws of Moses or the Sinaitic Code
contains a complete set of rules dealing with hygiene and sanitation
and the Bible in the Pentateuch also contains a full exposition of
sanitary laws which applied to both high priests, levites and laity,
infractions of which called forth penalties extending even unto death.
The code was enforced by the Priests and Levites, thus producing
an early form of sanitary inspector. There was neither pardon nor
avoidance of punishment by payment of a monetary fine available to
offenders.
Roman sanitation and its enforcement provide an object lesson
for modem civilization. The Romans constructed great sanitary
works for the benefit of the community and the sanitary edicts promulgated
by the rulers and senate were enforced by local government
officers termed Aediles. Thus the Curator Aquaria orWater Inspectors
were required to maintain » supply of 300 gallons per day to every
person in Rome and provide the public baths and fountains with adequate
supplies.
Public Health Officers consisted of six medical practitioners
in each Roman city who treated the sick poor in a manner somewhat
similar to the poor law medical officers' duties in Britain.
A true Sanitary Inspector was derived from the ranks of the
Aediles Plebis included Housing Officers who were to inspect public
buildings and places and by the fifth century these acquired the complete
sanitary supervision of Rome itself including the paving, draining
and cleansing of streets, prevention of noxious odours, control of
baths and sanitary conveniences and the supervision of taverns and
brothels. An offshoot of this office, termed the Cura Annonae was
required to ensure the fitness of food for human consumption, thus
providing an early type Food and Drugs Inspector. Curatoni Altie
prevented flooding of towns by sea water and supervised land drainage
and sewerage works.
The care of public buildings was vested in Curatores Opedium
Publicorum. Whilst the maintenance of public highways fell to the
Cura Viarium.