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these roads is very thick, and the matter seems to me to be urgent.
There is always a great deal of sickness in this part of the district.
In July, there occurred a serious outbreak of Diphtheria,
involving three persons in one house, which was traced to very
defective drains. In this case it was discovered that no intercepting
chamber existed between the main sewer and house; the
soil pipe was unventilated and rain-water pipes ran direct into the
drains; waste pipes from bath and lavatories were untrapped, and
the main house drain was broken and discharging into the soil.
It is difficult to understand how this state of things could have
been allowed to exist.
I have received numerous complaints of the deplorable state
of some of the roads, notably that of Spencer, Graham, Wolseley,
Gordon and Havelock Roads. Their condition this winter has
been most terrible, and, being unlighted, at night extremely
dangerous. I have had some very unpleasant experiences myself
when visiting at night in these roads. The mud, filth and stagnant
water that abounds in these roads cannot but be prejudicial to the
health of those living in them. I trust the winter of our discontent
in this matter is now over, and that we shall see the work of
making up these roads taken in hand very shortly, and this
standing disgrace to the district done away with.
The Council very wisely issued hand-bills and posters during
the hot weather, with instructions how to proceed in case of
an outbreak of infectious sickness, and also warning the public
against the use of tinned separated milk for the feeding of infants
and young children. It would be advantageous to have this done
quarterly.
Referring to the crusade against Tuberculosis, which is such
a terrible scourge to the population of our land, I feel sure the
District Council of Wealdstone are in every way desirous of
helping the movement.
The British Medical Association has recently issued a very
important statement on this subject, in which it is shown that the
mortality from Tuberculosis and acute specific diseases in the
United Kingdom at all ages per million living stands as follows :-
Tuberculosis. Acute Specific Diseases.
2,488. 1,606.
The mortality from Tuberculosis in early childhood is not
decreasing, as it is at other ages in the United Kingdom, and the
opinion that this great prevalence of the disease in infancy and
childhood is due to infection through the alimentary canal by milk
from Tuberculous cows appears to be well founded.
Sanitary Authorities should possess adequate means for the
systematic pathological examination of milk supplied by retail in
the district, whether it be produced within or without the district.