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29
It was reported to the Vestry, that in 1895 the Medical Officer
of Health sent to the Chairman of the Main Drainage Committee of
the Council a list of 20 cases of sewage flooding in basements, and in
many of the instances referred to the rooms were used as work,
rooms, but no action had yet been taken by the Council to deal with
the matter in this district.
A communication was accordingly directed to be forwarded to
the London County Council drawing attention to the serious possible
consequences that may arise from flooding of basement rooms, and
urgently requesting the Council to take immediate steps for more
efficiently dealing with storm water.
The matter again came before the Vestry on the 7th February,
1899, upon a report by the Committee of the result of the Surveyor's
inspection of certain arrangements at premises in Old Kent Road to
prevent the flooding of basements. The Committee expressed the
opinion that the' particular trap used, which is on the "stop back"
valve principle, would doubtless prevent flooding, provided the drain
is thoroughly well laid in a good bed of not less than six inches of
concrete.
Directions were given to the Inspectors in the event of a recur,
rence of flooding to take the necessary steps by the service of intimations
and notices to abate the nuisance and prevent a recurrence
thereof, and to take proceedings if the notices were not complied
with.
A letter was also received by the Vestry from the Local Government
Board on the subject, and a reply was directed to be sent by
the Vestry Clerk to inform the Board of the steps taken by the
Authority in drawing the attention of the Council to the matter, and
of the above course adopted by the Vestry.
Phthisis.
At the meeting of the Vestry on the 7th February, 1899, a
resolution was adopted to the effect, that seeing much suffering and
a large number of deaths arise from phthisis, it being an
infectious disease, the Medical Officer of Health be
desired to point out in simple language, the danger of the disease,
and to draft regulations which should be observed in respect to its
prevention,