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House to House Inspection.—One of the most important
duties devolving upon the Sanitary Inspectors is systematic
house inspection, with a view of ascertaining what nuisances
exist calling for abatement. Of the 4,874 primary inspections
made for all purposes, 1,439 were house to house visitations.
The number of premises upon which there was no nuisance
detected was 1,629 or 49 per cent. routine work, as compared
with 334 or 23 per cent. House to House work.
In reviewing the House to House inspection work we find
that at 77 houses in every 100 visited, nuisances were detected,
as compared with 51 houses in every 100 for general work.
This is explained by the fact that House to House Inspection
has been done in selected districts where Sanitary Inspection is
most needed, but which nevertheless proves its necessity, for
by it there are revealed not only Sanitary defects but conditions
under which people are content to live without complaining to
the Local Authority or informing the landlord. It is surprising
the little interest some owners take in their property or
their tenants' comfort, while on the other hand it is disappointing
to find the little regard some tenants have for the landlord's
house, or their own health. It frequently happens that houses
are put in good condition as a result of Notices having been
served but are speedily rendered unfit for habitation by unfair
treatment.
Choked Drains.—In reviewing the character of the nuisances
in the foregoing table, it will be observed that stopped drains
occupy the foremost position. The number of houses reported
and attended to under this heading being 1,605. This number
appears at first consideration to be large in proportion to the
number of houses in the Borough (26,000) but upon second
thought we find that the Council have for many years adopted the
policy of clearing drains and unstopping water closets without
charge, so that very few stoppages occur without being reported.
Then the system of drainage is by combined drains and the
average number of houses running into one main drain would be