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wherever practicable of the sinks from the drains, and the introduction
of a P trap under the sink when the waste pipe could
not be carried through the wall. Pain-water pipes were also
disconnected or trapped when the hopper head was near a
window, and the water supply to the closets was disoonneoted
from the cisterns, and the overflow pipes cut off from the drains.
These last named measures were taken to prevent as far as
possible contamination of drinking water with sewer gas. In
many instances a draw tap has been connected with the pipe
supplying the cistern, to enable the oooupiers of houses to
obtain water direct from the main. Most of this work has been
done by the additional inspector appointed last year, but all the
inspectors have taken an active part in these important alterations.
Although very many premises have been thus improved,
it will take a considerable time to visit all the houses in the
District, and carry out similar alterations. These improvements
have been effected on the following number of premises, viz. 2,720
bell traps were removed and yard gullies substituted on 1,991
premises; 1,533 sinks were cut off from the drains or trapped
underneath the sinks; 1,299 stack pipes were cut off or trapped in
1,299 houses, and the water supply apparatus was improved in 401
houses. In addition to these 712 choked or defective drains
were opened, cleansed and repaired or relaid; 203 yards were
properly drained, and as many as 978 re-paved, and 1,990 houses
were whitewashed, cleansed and repaired. The total number of
nuisances arising from defective means of drainage was 5,968;
of nuisances from defects in houses, 3,805; of houses disinfected,
1,343; and of other nuisances abated, nearly 500. There were
no less than 12,197 notices served on, and a very much larger
number of visits paid to premises in the District, in order to
obtain the abatement of these nuisances. In addition, 2,969
requests to have dust and other house refuse removed, were
attended to; 82 dead bodies were received into the mortuary;
116 cowsheds were visited several times during the year; 109
bakehouses were inspected; 259 greengrocers, poulterers and
fishmongers' yards visited, and all nuisances found thereon