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7
paratively comfortable houses are speedily rendered so dirty,
and the sanitary arrangements so often injured, as to make
them almost unfit for human habitation. I have not as a rule
found in this District that the landlords are so much to blame
as the tenants, and in very few instances have the dilapidated
dwellings belonged to members of the Vestry or Board; and when
they did, there was no difficulty in getting the necessary repairs
done. The inspections this year has been extended to a considerable
number of the better class of houses to see that the water.
supply to and apparatus for closets were satisfactory, and also
to ascertain if there were any direct communications of the sink
and bath.wastes and wash.house traps with the drains. Many of
these were found to be in a very unsatisfactory state, but as the
present system of supervising the drainage arrangements of the
new houses is fairly satisfactory, there is no necessity for the
examination of newly built houses by the Sanitary Inspector,
except on complaint.
There is one point of considerable importance as regards
the drainage of old houses, I allude to the continuance of brick
drains under or near to houses. I am strongly of opinion that
no brick drains, unless laid in a thick layer of concrete, should
be allowed either under or near houses, as however good and
sound they may be at the present time, there is always a risk
of there becoming imperfect and rats making their way through
them, and thus causing injury to health before the defects
become known.
During the year there has been a very large number of
drains choked, either from having been originally badly constructed,
or from cloths or other things having found their
way into them. Most of these were combined drains, and much
inconvenience and some injury to health has arisen in connection
with this last.named class of drains, as there is often great
difficulty in obtaining their cleansing or reconstruction when
the houses belong to different owners. Although there is some
risk attending the laying of drains under houses, even when