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9
Miss Warren, the Matron, resigned at the beginning of the
year, and Miss Pearson was appointed in her stead.
On October the 3rd a letter was written to the Sanitary
Inspector by the Medical Officer, Dr. Little, who requested that
an examination should be made of the Hospital to ascertain its
Sanitary condition, as bad odours were noticeable in different
parts of the building. This letter was laid before the Sanitary
Committee the same evening, and the Sanitary Officer was
instructed to inspect and report.
The following was Mr. Mayne's report:—
October 10th, 1895.
To the Chairman and Members of the Sanitary
Committee.
Gentlemen,
Infectious Diseases Hospital.
As instructed by the Committee at their
last meeting, I have made an inspection of the Hospital
and have to report as follows:—
Site. The Hospital stands on a wet site, with apparently no
subsoil drainage; the natural fall of the ground on the
East side is towards the building, and as this ground is
that part of the Sewage Farm which is irrigated with
untreated sewage, the site is rendered not only damp
but offensive.
Cellars. The cellars, which are situated below the Matron's
room and the large Ward, are paved with porous bricks,
and on opening up, I found three cesspools, two of which
contain stagnant water and one liquid sewage. The
odours in the cellars from decomposing woodwork and
the cesspools were most offensive. The roots of a tree
growing beneath the floor had upheaved the bricks into
the form of an arch and the space thus formed was full
of water. Between the cellar roof (which is composed
of loose boards) and the floor of the Matron's room is a