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were traced and appealed to to come to their assistance, with
satisfactory results.
The powers of compulsory removal of infirm persons to a
hospital or other institution who are incapable of looking after
themselves is a most desirable addition to existing Public Health
legislation, and provides a solution of the difficulties which have
been experienced for so long of effectively dealing with such
persons in the interest of their own health and for preventing
injury to the health of or serious nuisance to others.
Sewer Emanations and Public Health.
A large number of complaints were received during the
summer of offensive odours arising from open ventilators of the
London County Council sewers. It will be remembered that the
summer of 1929 was a very dry one, and the absence of rain for
long periods caused the nuisance to be almost unbearable in
certain parts of the Borough.
It is true that no serious outbreak of disease has ever been
attributed to emanations of sewer gas, and that men working in
the sewers have an exceptionally good record of health, but nevertheless
considerable inconvenience and annoyance is caused to the
general public as the result of ventilating sewers by manholes at
ground level.
The complaints were represented to the London County
Council, and the matter also received consideration by the Metropolitan
Boroughs' Standing Joint Committee. The County
Council subsequently issued a report of their Main Drainage Committee
on the subject, from which it appears that as the result of
the inquiry into the Holborn explosions, the number of open
surface ventilators was increased from about 2,000 to 4,000, but
as the result of complaints of offensive smell 250 were afterwards
closed, and it was stated that whilst the County Council adhered
generally to the present system of surface ventilation of sewers,
they had authorised the Main Drainage Committee to decide as
to the ventilation required in any particular case, having regard to
the circumstances involved. This Council were, however, of
opinion that remedial action should be taken by the L.C C. in
this matter of sewer ventilation, and the Metropolitan Boroughs'
Standing Joint Committee were informed to this effect.