[Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Peterborough City & Borough.

  • Peterborough (England). City & Borough Council.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Peterborough City & Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    BOROUGH SURVEYOR’S OFFICE, PETERBOROUGH, 11th February, 189(5. To the Urban District Council of the City and Borough of Peterborough. Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen, I have the honor to present to you my Report upon Sanitary matters which came under my notice during the year 1895. During the year much trouble was experienced with many of the somewhat thickly populated yards in the Borough, par¬ ticularly those in which several Water Closets are situate common to several houses; in some cases the closet drains were frequently found to be choked and the pans of some broken, it is a most troublesome matter for the owners of such premises to keep the flushing cistern in good order. The existing system of Water Closet arrangement in con¬ nection with the class of property above referred to, is not a satisfactory one, even when the cisterns are in good order, which is seldom the case, a two gallon flush of water is in¬ sufficient for the purpose of effectually cleansing the water closet pan and flushing the drain connected thereto ; in my opinion trough closets should be used and the flushing of same be either automatic or under the control of a duly authorized officer, if these means were adopted, sanitary matters would be greatly improved. In two cases dirty Bakehouses came under notice, imme¬ diate action was taken and the premises were cleansed and limewhited. Pig keeping, and the accompanying heap of manure, in situations near to dwelling-houses, has again been a source of trouble, in all cases coming under notice the nuisance was abated ; if the distance from dwelling-houses, at which swine could be kept, was regulated by a Bye Law, a difficulty would be removed. The flushing of the sewers received great attention during the year and additional ventilating shafts of varying sizes were erected, some against buildings and one against a tree, another ventilating gas column 9in. diameter has also been fixed, and permission has been obtained and arrangements are being made for the erection of several additional ventilating shafts—in all cases the ventilating shafts have been taken from the offending manholes, the outlets from which were but partially closed with a view to their becoming air inlets, they would not however act as such in all cases, particularly one at Westgate; in this instance the erection of the shaft did not effect an improvement and after several experiments had been made with respect to size of opening left in manhole cover, it was found necessary to close it by a moveable wooden lid. In Birmingham all offending manholes are closed where ventilat¬ ing pipes are fixed near thereto, and in some towns several of those in the vicinity of the ventilator are closed with a view to inducing an up current in the shaft. The periodical collection of house refuse has been duly attended to, the total quantity removed during the year being 3,832 loads. Seven houses have been disinfected during the year and the disinfecting stove has been used upon 35 occasions. I am glad to state that the small pox Hospital has not been required. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, J. W. WALSHAW, Sanitary Inspector.