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REPORT FOR 1882.
As some very unusual defects in the drainage of houses have
come under my notice during this year, chiefly in connection
with cases of diphtheria and typhoid fever, I propose stating
them at some length, as well as one or two other instances
which have been noted in former years. In one house standing
in its own grounds, the drainage arrangements were examined
in consequence of a death from typhoid fever. Everything was
said to he in good order, hut offensive smells had heen at times
observed. As the house had formerly heen drained by a brick
drain into a cesspool, it was decided to search for the cesspool
which was found 130 feet from the house, and had not been
emptied. The old brick drain was also discovered, and traeed
to within 13 feet of the house, and as the soil was loose, there is
no doubt that the sewer gas was drawn along the course of the
old drain into the house. The cesspool was emptied and filled
up, and the drain dug up for some distance from the house,
since which there has not been any smell observable. At a
house in De Beauvoir Road offensive smells were complained of
in a bedroom. On being inspected the cause at first appeared
to be incomprehensible, but on the loft over the room being
examined, it was found that the stack pipe instead of being
carried outside had been placed in an angle of the wall, and was
connected without the intervention of a trap with the drain.
The hopper head was in the loft, so that the drain was ventilated
directly into the house. At one of the Police stations some
cases of diphtheria occurred, but on a search being made a
cesspool, covered with a grating, was found in the yard which
had been used as a playground by the affected children. It
was of considerable depth, and received not only the yard