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34
Sanitary Precautions During the Floods.
1. The floods having extended over the gathering ground
of our water supplies, it is absolutely necessary that all water
should be boiled and filtered before being used.
2. Persons attacked with diarrhoea should seek medical
advice.
3. As soon as the water subsides, get the water pumped or
baled out—open all windows and doors to allow of free ingress of
fresh air—take up the flooring of basements to dry the space
underneath—spread about quicklime to help the drying process
—do not close up the floors till the space beneath is thoroughly
dry.
4. Disinfectants will be supplied by the Corporation
wherever necessary.
5. Further advice can be obtained by applying at this office.
As soon as the water commenced to subside,
the steam fire engine was set to work to pump out a
pond which had formed in the low-lying land in the
Bittoms, and this being drawn off, the water in the
cellars and basements flowed out, as it had flowed in.
The landlords of the poorer people were communicated
with, and in most cases sent coals and coke for
drying purposes. The water was mopped up by the
occupier, and disinfectants were freely distributed by
the Sanitary Inspector and his assistant, who attended
so promptly to every case that there was absolutely
no complaint, except from persons who were in a
position to help themselves, which I consider does
these two officers great credit.
I visited the ice cream makers. These people
were not at work, but their places were found to be
fairly clean. They do not blow the eggs used in the
process, so as to preserve the egg shells for rifle
galleries, &c., as is done at some places, there being
no demand for the shells in this neighbourhood.
Nine samples of well water were analysed and 4
were found very bad and the wells ordered to be
closed. Several samples of water from the