View report page

289
had been employed during the greater part of the year in the
office. It will thus be seen that, in the course of the
year, nearly all our additional inspectors had in one way
or other ceased to be of service to the Sanitary Department,
and no new appointments hail been made to fill
the places thus vacated. Additionally, Dr. Priestley, the
Assistant Medical Officer of Health, left us on the 13th
July, on obtaining the appointment of Medical Officer
of Health to Leicester. His retirement corresponded to
the time of the cholera scare ; and his post was not filled up
until Dr. Stevens, who had been previously elected,
commenced his duties on the 9th November. During this
four months I need scarcely say that a great deal of extra
work was necessarily thrown upon my shoulders, and
Stevenson had to be removed from his inspectorial duties to
do the office work required of the Assistant Medical
Officer. It will thus be seen, that the Sanitary Department
has worked, especially during the last months of the
year, under considerable difficulties, and that there is a very
reasonable explanation of the fact that the sanitary duties
performed during the year have been considerably less
than we had anticipated when the year began.
One important reason for delay in filling the various
vacant appointments was the fact that the Committee
took seriously in hand the question of the re-construction
of the staff, and of making it adequate to the needs of our
large and growing Parish. And finally, alter full con-
sideration and discussion, it was decided, that a new Chief
Sanitary Inspector should be appointed, and that the staff
of ordinary Inspectors should be raised to 14. And that,
in addition to Mr. Griffiths, a shorthand clerk should