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It is greatly to be desired and hoped for, that as education extends,
many of the evils which are now so productive of ill health will be
removed, and the happiness, comfort, and longevity of mankind, will
be promoted.
It is well known that much danger to the public health arises
from defectively built houses, more especially as regards the construction
of the foundations, drains, water closets, and walls. These
dangers might be prevented, if during the building of houses all the
sanitary arrangements were to be frequently inspected by the
surveyor and health officers of the several local boards, whose duty it
should be to ascertain not only that the foundations of all the houses in
the course of construction were properly made, but that the drains were
so laid, and constructed of such materials, as should prevent leakage ;
and that the water-closets should be formed of proper materials and so
placed, and trapped, as the emanations from them should not escape
into the rooms or passages of the house. It is also necessary that the
workmanship should be approved by the official inspectors, and that
no house should be allowed to be occupied as a dwelling unless the
same be certified by the local board, in regard to all its sanitary
arrangements, as being, in every respect, fit for habitation.
Unless more stringent regulations are made and acted on in the
construction of houses the health of the people must necessarily
suffer. In the construction of houses the only thing that appears
to be considered by many builders is that of cheapness. It will
certainly be found to be less expensive to prevent the building of
unhealthy houses, than to so alter them after they are built as to
render them fit for habitation.
Sanitary Works Performed during the Quarter ended
1st January, 1881.
The following return shows the amount of work done by the Sanitary
Inspectors during the Quarter ended 1st January, 1881.
Number of inspections of houses as shown in the official returns 2191
Houses specially visited 335
Houses specially re-visited 1340
Preliminary notices served, such notices embracing 359 premises 164
Compulsory orders issued, embracing 145 premises 41