Dr. S.W. Wheaton's report to the Local Government Board on diphtheria in the Enfield Urban District and on sanitary administration by the Urban District Council.

  • Wheaton, S. W.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. S.W. Wheaton's report to the Local Government Board on diphtheria in the Enfield Urban District and on sanitary administration by the Urban District Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    accumulates and causes much nuisance. There are very few streets with backways. In nearly all instances the bins have to be brought through the houses by the scavengers to empty them. No less than 5,433 loads of house refuse were collected in 1907. The refuse is collected for the most part weekly by the council’s scavenging staff, and is conveyed either to a large gravel pit or to a brickmaker in the district. The gravel pit is the property of the council and is situate quite close to one of the wells supplying the New River at the Hoe Lane Pumping Station. A very large excavation has been made over 10 feet in depth, which is being filled up with refuse. It is intended that the top soil should be thrown back over the surface of the refuse to prevent nuisance, but this had only been partly done at the time of my visit. If this is not done nuisance must arise in hot weather, and in view of the proximity of dwellings it is most necessary that this precaution should be taken. Nuisances.—It will be gathered from the foregoing account that nuisances must be prevalent in many portions of the district. These in great part arise from the scamped and defective work of former years. They arise from defects of drainage, leading to blocked drains or overflowing gulleys, from defective or absent paving of yards, from dilapidations leading to influx of water from roofs, and dampness of walls, floors and foundations. Frorii filthy water-closets, due to neglect, to inadequate flushing arrangements, or to dilapidation. From I he want of receptacles for refuse, or more frequently to people neglecting to use them and throwing refuse about the yards. From keeping of animals and poultry in close proximity to houses, without taking of precautions to avoid nuisance, and from accumulations of stable manure in heaps, owing to receptacles for this purpose not being provided. There is very little pig-keeping in the district, and I did not observe any nuisance from this source at the time of my visit, but nuisance has arisen from this cause and has been dealt with. In 1907 no less than 430 house drains were found to be blocked or defective, and Avere cleared of obstruction or repaired, and 68 were reconstructed. Also 67 soil pipes and drains were provided Avith vent pipes, and 327 water-closets provided with flushing cisterns or water supply. Slaughter-houses.—There are 17 in the district, of which 13 are registered. There is no public slaughter-house. A register is kept, in which the number of animals for which there is lairage is entered, and in some instances particulars also of the structure of the slaughter-house. Slaughter-houses ai*e in most instances situate in close proximity to dwellings, to the occupants of which in hot Aveather they cannot fail to be a nuisance. Their condition is various. Many are old buildings constructed of wood only. In several the lair is under the same roof as the slaughter-house, consisting merely of a portion partitioned off from it. Some are dirty and require cleansing and limewashing, but as a rule they are kept as clean as their defective structure will admit. Offal is collected in receptacles as a rule and removed promptly, but I met with oue exception, where it Avas thrown into a manure pit. In 1907 no