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possible, be kept cleaner, because the ventilating openings are
reduced both in size and number, and if foul gases are generated
in too great a volume they may possibly find their way into the
house drains with prejudicial effects to health.
I understand that the contract for the sewering of private
roads includes the erection of about 25 ventilating shafts in various
parts of the district, and these no doubt will prevent bad smells
arising from the sewers.
The Sewage Disposal Works have been carried on very
satisfactorily, only once during the year was a compliant made of a
nuisance, to which I have already referred. In addition I may
observe that lime of inferior quality for the purpose of precipitation
was used on that occasion causing the effluent water to
retain an unpleasant smell. A superior lime is now used, and very
good results are obtained.
The Thames Conservancy Inspector visited the works on
many occasions and reported the effluent to be very good.
During the severe floods in November the pumps were
stopped for three days it being found useless to continue operations
during that period.
ISOLATION HOSPITAL.
The negotiations with representatives of neighbouring
Sanitary Authorities for the formation of a combined district
for providing an Isolation Hospital have led to no result, and we
have so far made no progress towards the solution of this difficult
question. In September your Board considered again the
subject and resolved to leave the question for the coming District
Council to deal with. The need of such an Institution, and also
the difficulty to provide one is acknowledged by every member of
the Council, and I need not repeat the remarks I have made on
this subject for many years past. I hope the new District Council
will take some early steps in the matter, and if it is found
impossible to induce the adjoining districts to form a combination,
the difficulty may be overcome by appealing to the County
Council to constitute a joint Hospital District.
I remain,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
TH. GÜNTHER. M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
January 31st, 1895.