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the owners of property who had neglected or refused to abate
the nuisances existing on their premises.
I have also attended on two occasions before the Royal
Commissioners on Hospitals for Infectious Diseases, to give
evidence, and submit statistics as to the effects of the Homerton
Hospital on the health of the adjoining neighbourhood, as well
as of the Ambulances and Ambulance Station of the Asylums
Board at London Fields. My evidence was rather voluminous,
and is noticed in many portions of their report, as no less than
31 of my statements or answers to questions are referred to
in it. The report of the Commissioners as to the future
management of these hospitals, contain recommendations which,
if carried out, will materially limit the number of small-pox
patients treated in the Metropolitan Hospitals.
The number of nuisances abated during the year was very
large, as no less than 2,951 bell traps were removed, and the
same number of more efficient traps, chiefly yard gullies, were
substituted. There have been also 1,474 sinks cut off from the
drains, and 1,446 stack pipes disconnected. These latter have
been cut off from direct communication with the drains when
they were placed near to windows, and were therefore likely to
prove injurious to the health of the inmates of the houses. In
many cases the only objectionable arrangements connected
with the water supply or drainage in houses where typhoid fever
or diphtheria had occurred, was the existence of hopper-heads
near the bedroom windows. There were 355 choked drains
cleansed and repaired or re-laid; 199 damp yards drained;
and 202 choked water-closet pans released. In addition to
these there were 1575 yards in which the paving was repaired
or new paving provided; 435 dust-bins repaired or new ones
supplied ; and 1,477 houses whitewashed, cleansed and repaired.
As a large number of the small houses in the district were and
are not even now supplied with water for the closets, a large
number of notices have been served on the owners during the
year, where a constant supply has been given, to provide a
proper water supply and apparatus for flushing the closets,