[Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashton-in-Makerfield U.D.C.

  • Ashton-in-Makerfield (England). Urban District Council. n 78087965.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1896] / Medical Officer of Health, Ashton-in-Makerfield U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    9/14 (page 7)
    If we take mortality into consideration regarding this question, I find that during the past six years while we had 17 deaths from membraneous croup and 3 from diphtheria, we had 83 from measles —and the notifications also in the two former will explain the relative value in the import of checking the zymotic death rate. I have attended 11 of 12 Sanitary Committee meetings during the course of year (and one special meeting in regard to Measles, epidemic), reporting results of my inspections, and visits to localities and properties, referring you to:—open ashpits at Slagg Lane and Lower Lane; to house previously reported as in bad condition ; to oppoidune time to again advert to the desirability of Inspector getting a detailed account of the sanitary condition of each house on his visits after receipt of notification on the form shewn; continued existence of large old open ashpit at Stone Croft; to want of water supply in south-west portion of district, viz.. Copper House Row and Stanley Mill; back-to-back houses in East Street; walls of six houses at Pewfall being again fractured through colliery workings; want of water supply to Step Houses, High Brooks; to necessity for an Ambulance; to puerperal fever, its cause and how to check it; water supply to Flora Street. Measles (cases of), and that I had warned schoolmasters of its presence. Accumulation of sewage at Drummers Lane; to water supply (want of) at Wallace’s Nook, and also again to Copper House Row; to nuisance re nightsoil box cart, and requesting your Council to get the 2 new ones into use with all practicable speed; to 4 bad cases of overcrowding; pollution of stream in Drummers Lane by sewage (July). To Measles and closing of Stubshaw Ci’oss schools. Necessity for preventing occupation of new cottages until certified by Surveyor; to erection of new property with upper sashes of window immoveable; supply of water to Moor Lane farm; to necessity for rejecting plan of intended alteration to property in Barrow Street; to property— generally in detail, specially inspected at Edge Green Lane, three houses being then unfit for habitation, and two would be best dealt with under Housing of Working Classes Act, and demolished. Further, giving details of the internal condition of a large number of dirty houses where measles had occurred; to uncovered insanitary ashpits ; to advisability of having an Insanitary Property Committee. Closing of British Schools in September (measles) ; three bad cases of overcrowding; water supply to Soughers Lane. Special meeting re ileasles in connection with St. Oswald’s Schools (which on my report were closed) ; to supply of water to Hurst’s farm in Lilly Lane (November); overcrowding in three cases; two filthy houses off Flora Street, and asking for I.P.C. to visit same as unfit for habitation; to puerperal fever; overcrowding in Albert Street. The above are the chief items brought before your notice. During the course of the past twelve months a considerable amount of valuable work has been attended to and accomplished. In regard to several places mentioned re water supply, with the exception of Copper House Row, and Stanley Mill and Highbrooks, they have been attended to and supplied. The public supply is good, ample, and on constant service system; yet occasionally little grumblings are heard, or made to me, of insufficient pressui’e, or even cessation, but on enquiry I find that the same is unavoidable from repairs thi’ough subsidences, leakages, and the like. Concerning the much larger question of supplying Copper House Row locality, it is as far as I gather purely a question of expense, being so far isolated from your mains. There is a large popula- tion here, fortunately, on the whole, having pretty good luck in the way of infectious sickness, consideriTig it en masse. This may be explained perhaps on the broad principle of a plentiful supply of fresh air blowing round on all sides. I do wish, however, that some provision could be made for the people. At Highbrooks they are practically without even good or bad. Very considerable attention has been bestowed by your Council on insanitary property, and in return much paid by owners in the way of carrying out repairs and improvements, notably at Brynn Gate, older property of Messrs. Crippin, back-to-back houses at North Street, and also at property in Edge Green Lane. A number houses in Gas Street have been purchased by your Council which were previously reported bad. In regard to removal of pails, the two new vans are actively employed, and I have heard no further complaints. On the main roads, too, considerable outlay has been made in macadamising work and steam rolling the same, curbing, flagging, and channelling, &c., which must conduce to the comfort and health of the people. With overcrowding you have a difficulty, since in almost every case the occupiers are members of one family, and it would be difficult probably to get an order for abatement if summary proceedings were taken ; and further, if an order for abatement were obtained, it would be difficult to say how or when it could or would be carided out.