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7
The closets are mostly ill-constructecd, dilapidated, and filthy in the
extreme; they are, in almost every instance, fitted with the oldfashioned,
straight-sided hopper-pan, which, even under most
favourable circumstances is most difficult to keep clean: some of the
"pans" are simply cement fnnnels without any trap.
Not five per cent, of the closets have any water supply. In consequence
of this the pans are encrusted with filth, and stink abominably.
A few of the better-class houses have cisterns over the closets, from
which the house supply is drawn: a most objectionable arrangement.
In the whole of the district there is a constant service of good water,
which is drawn from taps supplied, in most instances, direct from the
mains without the intervention of cisterns. The water, therefore, with
the exceptions mentioned, is plentiful, fairly pure, and is not contaminated
by the foul air of these narrow courts and alleys. I believe
this to be the explanation of the otherwise unaccountable fact that
infectious fevers are less common here than in the more recentlybuilt
portions of the parish, where the closet cisterns frequently
provide the domestic water supply.
In some of the courts the water supply, though otherwise good, is
deficient in convenience, only one stand pipe being provided for each
court. As a consequence of this, women have frequently some
distance to walk in order to fetch water, and they have to wait their
turn to draw it; this leads to economy in its use, less water is used
for purposes of cleanliness, and less finds its way in the shape of slops
down the closet. Additional stand pipes should be provided for most
of these courts.
Very few of the yards have properly constructed ash bins, and when
these conveniences do exist they are usually dilapidated and overflowing
with refuse.
Now for the remedy : most of the houses in this unsanitary condition
can be dealt with by putting in force the provisions of the Metropolis
Local Management Act and the Nuisance Removal Act.
Owners should be compelled to keep their property in better repair
Proper water supply and water supply apparatus should be provided
for all closets.
The owners of houses, built subsequently to the passing of the
Metropolis Local Management Act in 1855, are liable to a heavy fine
for omitting to do this. But for houses built before this date the