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inconvenience caused by the men calling at an untimely hour,
would be wholly avoided, the men could do more work in the
time now occupied in removing the refuse, and the cost of
collection would be proportionately reduced. There might
be some difficulty in the way of adopting this system in the
case of tenement houses, although much might be done, even
there, by the landlord making one particular tenant
responsible for the periodical and complete removal of the
refuse. In houses of a better class, or where the landlord is
resident, the Vestry are persuaded that the general adoption
of a portable receptacle, in place of a dustbin, could be
accomplished without difficulty, and at a very slight expense,
with considerable advantage to the community.
On the second point, water supply, the Vestry call
attention to the following suggestions prepared by their
Medical Officer of Health:—
I.—Cisterns should be flushed out at the beginning of each month.
The flushing should be done by pulling up the waste pipe and letting the
cistern empty itself, while with a soft broom the water is well stirred up
from the bottom, so as to get rid of sediment. This should be done when
the water is first turned on at the main, and when the cistern is quite
emptied out the fresh water should be allowed to run for five minutes, so as
to rinse the cistern out before the waste pipe is replaced in the cistern to
refill. Lead cisterns should never be scrubbed or scraped out, but only
swept over the surface with a soft house-broom, or hand brush.
XI.—Cisterns should be provided with a proper cover, so as to keep the
water free from dust and dirt.
III.—Cisterns should have their waste and overflow pipes properly
severed from all direct communication with waterclosets, or sewers, so that
foul air cannot rise into the cistern and pollute the water.
IV.—If typhoid fever, cholera, or other infectious disease, which is often
conveyed by water, he about, and there be any anxiety as to the possible
pollution of the water supply, the remedy is to boil the water. Water, if
polluted, will not be made bright or clear by boiling it, but any disease
germs which it contains will be killed thereby, and water, even if polluted,