THE SEWERAGE OF THE WEST END OF LONDON.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2644, 28 September 1882, Page 4

THE SEWERAGE OF THE WEST END OF LONDON.

The “ Lancet” of 22 ad July writes as follows: “ We wonder whether the authorities of the West end of London will bring an action against ns if we dare to endorse an opinion expressed in a letter written to the •Times’ by a competent surveyor, to the effect that the sewerage of certain districts of the metropolis is detective. Mr A. Peebles has done good service in calling attention to the deplorable and disgraceful state of the sewers in some of the moat fashionable districts. He says— ‘ A short time since, in consequence of a death from diphtheria, 1 was called upon to inspect the sanitary condition of a houee in one of the fashionable West end squares. After having carefully inspected the dwelling, I directed my attention to the streets in order to ascertain what provision existed for the escape of gases from the public drain, when to my astonishment I found that there was not a single ventilator in the whole square, except the gullies; and upon tracing this drain to its main sewer, and following it, I found the ventilators so very far apart that their effect must be imperceptible upon the gases thus pent up. I have since made frequent similar observations with a like result. The effect of depending npon the gullies to act as ventilators also is that when a storm occurs—not an unusual thing—the rash of water into the sowers drives the gases rapidly through the private drains into the houses; indeed, they become the only exits, while at all times the private drain is sucking the sewer gas, unless the drains are effectively disconnected, which is seldom the ease.' It is satisfactory to know that not only Brighton, but London, will be benefited by the attention which onr remarks and criticisms have directed to the mistaken policy of leaving the sewers to pour their foul and poisonous i ases through open gratings into the streets. The mischievous effects of this wholly irrational system are more oonspicnons in certain localities than they may be in others, but they are disastrous to health everywhere, and we have no hesitation in asserting that the total sickness and mortality of most populous districts would be sensibly reduced if the sewers were properly ventilated by shafts or pipes opening well above the level of the highest rooms in the adjacent houses, and no escape of gas were permitted on the street level. As we have repeatedly insisted, house drains should be entirely out off from the sewers, not by mere “traps,” but by properly constructed disconnecting chambers. These are the imperative and urgent necessities of a sanitary condition at Brighten, and the same measures must sooner or later be adopted throughout the metropolis. The sanitary engineers know we are right, and they would consult the interests of public health if they spoke out boldy on the subject, instead of bolstering up a system which their own better judgment condemns.