REPOBT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 841, 5 March 1877, Page 3

REPOBT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The following report of Dr Powell, on the sanitary condition of the town and suburbs, has been forwarded to the newspapers for publication : "Worcester street Ohiistchurcb, " Ist March, 1877. " The Chairman of the Ohristchurch District Board of Health.

<i 3j r) —l have the honor to report that in accordance with instructions, accompvoio-1 by the inspector, Mr Pearce, I visited the outskirts and suburbs of the town, in order to form an opinion as to the adviaedncsa of extending the pan system of sewage removal.

" I understand that at present the use of pana is not enforced even within the town, and that outside the city boundaries raiddenn orlcesspits are, with few exceptions, in general uae. "B-iaiing in mind that typhoid fever and infantile diarrhcea (in very m-iny c.isaa merely a masked form of typhuid) are endemic in the district, and that these diseases are closely associated whether by origin or contagion, or both, with accumulations of human fecal evacuations, and that there is ample foundation for the belief that the contagion of typhoid remains active for considerable periods, and may be borne by the circulation of the water of the subsoil for considerable distances, I think there cannot be two opinions as to the great danger which attends the use of the common unwalled midden, especially in a porous gravelly soil such as that on which the city stands.

" We undoubtedly owe it to our excellent artesian water supply that typhoid is not ramrj&nt in this town, and I have demonstrated on a previous occasion that following the general adoption of artesian wells there was a marked and steady decline in the mortality from fever. The Icvkl of the artesian water is steadily sinking at the rate of something like two inches a year. In the higher parts of the town the water does not rise to the surface, and as soon rb the level sinks so low that the water is subject to contamination by percolation from the surrounding soil, a new element of danger will be introduced.

" I believe that I have ample grounds for stating that within the Town belt typhoid fever is far from common, and this I attribute to the general use of pans, which restrict the risk of contagion within narrow boundaries and ehort periods. " The conclusion at which I have arrived is that the town itself, and the suburbs indeed, within a radius which can be worked within a reasonable coat, the use of soil pans should be enforced.

"The pans should be emptied with sufficient frequency, at not longer intervals than once a week, at all events during the summer months, avd care should be taken that the number of pass should be proportioned to the number of inhabitants of the dwelling, so that there mr.y be no ritk t.-f splaehiug or overflow ; this would apply especially to hotels and manufactory

" The pans at present in ua3 are calculated with proper usage to suffice for six adults for one week or thereabouts.

" The contractor, Mr Brighfcling, tells mo that it ia a common thing for the pans in use at hotels to be full to ovei flowing ; but this is in some measure owing to their being used by visitors from the country on market days and holidays. I think that it is advisable that there should be public conveniences of this description in the town, and that there should be earth closets, so as to diminish the risk of dissemination of typhoid by those using them; diarrhea* being a chief pymptom of this disease. Indted, I would suggest that in all schools, hotels, and factories, the use of earth closet 3 should be enforced, and that facilities should also be placed in the way of private persons who may wish to adopt the earth closet.

" I think it is worth considering whether a better form of pan could not be adopted. Mr Brightling tells me that the present pans do not last much longer than two years. At Rochdale, where the pan system is carried out in great perfection, wooden tubs are used, strengthened with iron bands, and provided with a lid; these are found to Inst much longer than iron pans. It would bo a great improvement if practicable to construct the pans with -a perforated false bottom, so as to separate the solids from the liquids. This would undoubtedly considerably delay fermentation of the contents.

" I beg to suggest that the Board might consider whether a better system of removal could not be adopted; I m?an whether, wifh out creating a nuisance, it would not be perfectly practicable to remove the pans bodily to the reserve, substituting a fresh pan, and having the one removed thoroughly scoured out. At Rochdale this plan is adopted, the pans being removed in the day time in a H.pecially constructed cart. To make this plan applicable here, however, the Boohdalr system would need to be simplified so as to enable more of tbo pans to bt) removed in one waggon. Mr Brightling thinks that with the exception of tho first outlay, this could be done without creating a heavier charge on the inhabitants; the plan might be tried ex perimeutally before applying it on auy large scale.

"As a matter of minor importance which would assist to promote the comfort of those using the pans, I would suggest that after the pans are emptied they should be dredged

out with an ounce or so of carbolate of liroe; his would remove the offensive stale smeil which clings to che pans. The carbolata in • xctssiveiy cheap if bought in balk. I believe it could be imported for something under sixteen shillings a hundredweight. I' is an excellent disinfectant, and it would be •veil that the public should slao bo able to obtain it cheaply for us:! in cases oi lever, and other contagious diaease.

" I have to report that I visited the night soil reserve at. present in use The old soil pits are perfectly sound and overgrown with grass. The preseut mode of disposing of the contents of the night carte is by opening a trench, which after receiving the soil at night is immediately covered in, a fresh truck bring opened the next day. I failed to detect, either by sight or smell, anything in the least degree offensive, although I Btood some time at the border of the trench, which had been used the previous night. At present the ground that is being dug over is of a wet, clayey nature, which would speedily effect the disintegration of the night soil ; tiand, however, if dry, is highly antiseptic, and will preserve organic matter undeatroyed for an indefinite period. Might not the soil be disposed of more profitably by allowing agriculturists to use it under proper supervision, receiving it on ploughed land and immediately harrowing it over? " I have visited a number of pi ices where pigs are kept. In some instances the sties were clean and wholesome, and the manure, &c, not allowed to accumulate ; in other cases, however, could only bo characterised as filthy, injurious to health, and J«in unmitigated nuisance. I think that for the sake of health pigs should not be kept within a chain and a half of any dwelling, even where properly attended to, and that pig breeding should only be allowed enlarge holdings The question of nuisance, apart from health, hardly comes within my province.

" I have the honor to be, Sir, '' Yours obediently, "Llewellyn Powell, M.D., " Medical Officer."