THE SANITARY STATE OF THE TOWN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 676, 2 April 1875, Page 2

THE SANITARY STATE OF THE TOWN.

—o—(CONTRIBUTED.) During the period of the typhoid fever affliction, which desolated Cromwell to such an extent about th ; s time last year, Clyde ■was congratulating itself upon its happy immunity, and boasting of its cleanliness.' Notwithstanding this felicitous state of affairs before the commencement of the summer, just passing away, the local Board of Health in obedience to instructions from the Board in Dunedin, proceeded to take certain steps with the view of ascertaining the sanitary condition of the town, and removing, if there was found to exist, any then present evil, and in everyway wisely to adopt all precautionary measures to prevent the advent of the calamity amongst us. Subsequently, the then Resident Surgeon to the Dunstan Hospital, (Dr. Thomson,) furnished the Municipal Corporation with a report upon the condition of the town, and while acknowledging its general cleanliness, pointed out the presence o several existing nuisances, recommending their speedy abolition, and warning against the inevitable result of their continuance, notably, the removal of all manure deposits, pig-styes, the skins and offal of slaughtered animals, and that proper care should ho taken in the purification and cleansing of a’l water-closets. This report was followed by some slight action at first on the part of the Body-Corporate, and a. round of domiciliary visits were made, nuisances were discovered here and there, and the creators were admonished and dictated to, as to the best remedial measures. A few obeyed, and exerted themselves accordingly, but it is but too true the majority, while professing their willingness to comply, simply did either nothing, or, after a few feeble efforts permitted things to relapse into their nor mal state, and the others seeing that this inaction was unaccompanied by any chastisement, suffered their efforts to relax, until at the date of my now writing, instead of Cromwell being designated as “ dirty Cromwell, par excellence-, the title could with some truth and aptitude he applied to Clyde. As is well known the Autumnal season—the Indian summer—is the very period when contagious diseases of any kind arise, and obtain their strongest hold upon the human frame; all nature is decaying, and vegetation is in a state of death and decomposition, while the very atmosphere itself has lost its elasticity and recuperative power. Should therefore such an affliction befall us at this moment as the outbreak of any such disease, I would fain ask what has been done to guard against it, and what has become of the remedial measures inaugurated with so much fuss at the time mentioned? Why, positively nothing ! Piggeries exist close to dwellings, with their foul abominations, contaminating the air, and poisoning fbe existence of those who are compelled to exist within their upas-tree influence. Manure heaps, composed of every kind of filth, lie seething into very hot-heds of disease and death ; dead animals are allowed to remain until the passer-hy, warned o his danger, is obliged to adopt some other route to reach his abode. Sheep are being slaughtered, not only in the town, but actually on the very premises ; while skins and offal (the former especially) are permitted to remain until the owner’s caprice or interest dictates their removal.

No person can be unconscious that we possess a slaughter-yard, because; though situated a short distance from the town we are not infrequently reminded of its presence by the nnn-odoriferous exhalations borne on the bosom of the air. Its distance is no guarantee of our safety, nor should it be tolerated so close to its owner’s residence, for it is no answer for him to say that he feels no inconvenience from it. Unconscious to him, any day, the seeds of disease may be engrafted upon his family, and their illness may be the first fruits of the disaster to be spread amidst us. Ducks and geese, as of yore, Inxuriate with the wildest abandonment in the town-race, and defiling matter, unchecked and unheeded, pours into it from a variety of sources, rendering the only water we possess for domestic purposes, obtained at such cost, and for which taxes are levied, unfit for use ; that instead of being regarded as areal blessing to the community it has come to be viewed with apprehensive feelings as a pestilential medium, to be used with diffidence, and avoided when possible.

Possessing every advantage as to locality, soil, fall for drainage, and an abundant water supply, we despise or ignorc the gifts wherewith Providence has so lavishly endowed ns, and because the fell disease has not yet attacked us. Although mercifully warned of its present existence in poor Cromwell, we shut our eyes and' with folded hands await tho chanter of events, trusting to that luck that has hither, to so wonderfully preserved us.

If others are content to submit to this fatalistic indifference, this existence of degradation and dirt, 1 for one, am not, nor should you Mr Editor, nor should any man who values his own life, or the lives of thoso who arc perhaps dearer to him than his own. Enough!

A Sense of Dignity.—The West is noted for its admiration of the fair sex. An lowa justice of the peace, recently refused to fine a man arraigned before him for kissing a girl against her will * because,’ as ho ‘ remarked the plaintiff is so temptingly pretty that nothing but an overwhelming sense o£ dignity, and the responsibility of its oath, has prevented the Court from kissing her itself.”

Going into the office in Doctors Commons were all the wills are kept a countryman was surprised to see such a number of largo volumes, and inquired if they wore Bibles. * No, sir,’replied one of the clerks, ‘they are testaments.”