BOARD OF HEALTH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2359, 25 October 1881, Page 3

BOARD OF HEALTH.

A special meeting of the Local Board of Health was held yesterday afternoon at two o’clock at the office of the Board, Hereford street. Present—Mr R. J. 8. Harman (chairman), Messrs H. J. Tar.cred, W. White, O. B. Blakieton, J. V. Boss, E. Hobbs. The Chairman said—l think the Board are to be congratulated on the fact that their endeavors to secure an improvement in the Public Health Act have been successful. The passing of the Public Health Act, 1876, Amendment Act, 1881, renders it now possible to deal effectually with such an outbreak of typhoid fever as recently occurred here; more especially as our new Act goes further than the Act which is relied upon in England, and gives power to prohibit the sale of milk in oases where the public health would be likely to be endangered thereby. I have applied to the Government for the requisite authority to enable us to avail ourselves of the provisions of the Act. The attention of medical practitioners should, 1 think, be called to the alteration of the law with respect to the reporting of infectious diseases. The duty of reporting now lies equally upon the householder and the medical practitioner, and each are liable to a considerable penalty for neglect of their duty in this respect. It was resolved —“ That an advertisement be inserted in the newspapers calling the attention of medical men and the public generally to the alteration in the law as to reporting infectious diseases, and that a circular letter to the same effect be sent to each medical man in the district.”—The report of the health officer, submitted at last meeting, relative to Messrs Hancock’s soap and tallow works, was considered —The Chairman said thema'tcr had been before the Board before, and the general feeling had been that unless the industry was detrimental to the health of the people in tho neighborhood it might bo allowed to be carried on in its present locality. The question for them to consider was whether, in the face of Dr. Ned will’s report, tho time had arrived when it should bo made imperative on Messrs Han oock to remove their works to a loss populous neighborhood. He might say that he passed the place himself frequently, and there was always an offensive odour arising from the tallow works. Some discussion took place, in which members generally expressed themselves in favor of calling upon Mr Hancock to remove hi* candle works, which it appeared was a nuisance it was impossible to otherwise obviate. —Mr Hancock, being in attendance,

I was then introduced, and informed by the chairman of the effect of the health officer’* report, and of the opinion of the Board that the tallow works should bo discontinued. The Board had no desire to take proceedings against him if thej could come to an understanding for the removal of the evil complained of. But the report of the health officer was so strong on the subject that they were bound in the interests of the public to call upon him to remove this objectionable part of his business. They felt reluctant to do anything which would interfere with an important industry but felt that they had no alternative, Mr Hancock acknowledged that the candle work* were sometimes a nuisance, and said he would be willing to remove them if allowed time to erect a new building and a steam engine, which would take about six weeks or two months. After some discussion it was agreed that six weeks be allowed for the removal of the tallow works, Mr Hancock undertaking to discontinue the nuisance within that time This did not apply to the soap works, which it was stated were not a public nuisance. Mr Hancock then withdrew.

The following correspondence was read— From the clerk of the Spraydon Road Board, acknowledging receipt of the health officer’s report relative to the 4)voE water from the Sunnyside Asylum to the Lincoln road open drain, expressing dissent from the same, and requesting the Board of Health to use its utmost endeavors to remedy the nuisance. Prom Mr Henry Eillner, calling attention to a nuisance arising from a quantity of stagnant water lying on some sections in Armagh street east between the east belt and Stanmore road. From Mr O. L. Purvis, Perry road, in reference to a nuisance caused by his neighbour allowing the water from an artesian well to run on to his property. The correspondence was dealt with in the following manner —In reference to the flow of water from the Sunnyside Asylum, 3 it was decided to obtain a qualitative analysis of the water complained of. The letter of Mr Henry Killner was referred to the Inspeclor. Mi Purvis’ letter was referred to the chairman, with powertoact. This concluded the business.