Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary condition of Hatfield.

  • Low, Robert Bruce, 1846-1922.
Date:
[1889]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary condition of Hatfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Nuisances, Mr. Wells is a publican and botel-keeper. He keeps a livery stable and he farms likewise a holding of 250 acres. He does not make systematic inspections of bis district, but visits different places from time to time and whenever matters are specially reported or complained of to him. Until June last, Mr. Wells kept little official record of his proceedings, but since an interview of Mr. Peel, the Board’s General Inspector, with the Sanitary Authority in that month, he has kept note of his visits of inspection m an “Inspector’s Pocket Book.” From June to the end of the year the pocket book contains 66 entries, and for the first quarter of 1889 an additional 18 entries ; for the most part these relate to nuisances resulting from stopped drains, accumulation of refuse, and the like. This book is initialed from time to time by the Chairman of the Sanitary Authority, and in most cases a note is added that the matter complained of has been attended to. I learn from Mr. Wells that he exercises some sort of supervision over a registered common lodging-house in the town, and that, in addition, he visits the slaughter-houses at intervals. In reference to the Medical Officer of Health’s contention, that an excessive incidence, in 1887, of epidemic diarrhoea on Hatfield Old Town had been related to a variety of unwholesome conditions there, and especially to flagrant defects of the main sewer, it needs to be said that almost precisely similar conditions have elsewhere been found to have promoted diarrhoeal sickness. How far, at Hatfield the conditions were directly or indirectly related to the local prevalence of infantile diarrhoea in 1887, is a question which cannot now be definitely settled; but there can be no question that the evidence, so far as it goes, is consistent with relation between the two sets of circumstances having been an intimate one. Be this as it may, the Medical Officer of Health’s discontent, past and present, with the London Koad sewer, is on other grounds abundantly justified, as also is his discontent with the general want of sewer ventilation in Hatfield, with the numerous defects of its house drainage, and with the structural shortcomings and want of regulation of the slaughter¬ houses. For the rest: in the matter of scavenging, improvement has admittedly taken place since the presentation of the Medical Officer of Health’s 1887 report; and, as regards stables, two of the worst in the town have been got rid of. Generally too there has apparently been, since the date of that report, greater activity in sanitary amendment than heretofore. But much remains to be done for the town. R. BRUCE LOW. RECOMMENDATIONS. 1. Skilled advice and assistance should be obtained with a view to the re-sewering of Hatfield Old Town, and consideration should at the same time be given to the question of providing for the sewering of New Town and Beaconsfield Terrace along with the Old Town on the same or some other efficient sewer system. 2. The inadequate closet accommodation, especially in some of the courts at Hatfield, should be supplemented; and the defective closets should be improved as regards their ventilation. In all parts of the town water-closets should have water laid on to them, and be provided each with a flushing-box. Where water supply to closets on this method is not obtainable, the water- closets should be abolished and a closet on the pail or dry earth system substituted. 3. The water service of Hatfield Old Town should be extended to New Town and Beaconsfield Terrene, or a wholesome supply from other source or sources should be obtained for these places. 4. Systematic inspection throughout Hatfield should be undertaken for the discovery of sanitary defects of dwellings and their appurtenances. These should be duly recorded, and measures be taken for procuring the remedy of each unwholesome condition. 5. The Local Authority should, under section 42 Public Health Act, 1875, itself undertake the scavenging of refuse in this part of the district.