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Last year I drew attention at some length to
the inadequate watering of the roads and to the
serious evil caused by the dust, especially on Sundays.
There is now an improvement in this latter
respect, for which everyone is grateful, but the
watering will require to be done very thoroughly if
it is to cope at all with the immense amount of dust
that will follow the ever increasing number of motor
cars. I have no hesitation in drawing attention
again to this subject as it is most serious to the
public health. The dust of towns abounds in septic
matter and is fruitful in damage to eyes and throats,
and until a radical improvement in road making and
road material is discovered the only means at
command is to keep it down by watering. Even
mud is better than dust.
I am,
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
Yours obediently,
OWEN COLEMAN, m.d., d.p.h.,
Medical Officer of Health.
March 31st, 1905.
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