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5
manner as to render the work a pleasure, and reduce
difficulties to a minimum. A perusal of the Tables
also shews that a very large number of rooms and
houses have been reported to him for cleansing where
the Medical Officer's certificate is a necessity to enforce
a notice. Here again the owners generally comply
with the first notice, and give very little trouble in this
direction.
House Drainage.
In making a house-to-house inspection, or enquiries
relating to infectious disease and general complaints, a
large number of houses are " starred " for drain testing.
Comparatively few drains have been reconstructed
throughout, having regard to the large number in the
district, but the smoke test, which is the test usually
applied, has revealed a large number of leakages in the
branch connections, soilpipes and w.c's, at a point
near the surface, or where drain air can easily escape
with baneful results. Inspection chambers, fresh
air inlets, etc., also receive attention, and where
defective are brought up-to-date ; and finally the yards,
or portions thereof are paved from the dwellings outwards,
or to a gully, and thus the drains are rendered
sound, and well ventilated, surface water is carried off,
and the houses rendered sanitary and dry.
During the year 216 house drains were examined
and tested as against 285 for the previous year.
Perhaps fewer representations have been made
to the Council with regard to systems of combined
drainage, which is accounted for by the fact that the