Dr. Blaxall's report to the Local Government Board upon a wide-spread epidemic of scarlatina in the urban sanitary district of Lower Brixham (Devonshire), and upon the general sanitary condition of the town / [F.H. Blaxall].

  • Blaxall, F. H.
Date:
[1889]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Blaxall's report to the Local Government Board upon a wide-spread epidemic of scarlatina in the urban sanitary district of Lower Brixham (Devonshire), and upon the general sanitary condition of the town / [F.H. Blaxall]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    administration they liave signally tailed, as herein-before stated, to fulfil the requirements of their own byelaws, and to give effect to the Public Health Act in regard specially to the clauses relating to disease prevention and to nuisances. Such failure would appear to be in part due to their not making proper use of the medical officer of health and inspector of nuisances appointed in accordance with the requirements of the Public Health Act to assist them. Ho doubt they have in soiiie respects great inherited difficulties to contend with in carrying out their duties, owing to the close manner in which dwellings are crowded together in the old parts of the town. But even as to this much might have been done under the advice of a careful medical officer of health, and by the aid of a vigilant inspector of nuisances, to improve the condition under which the people live, to secure efficient ventilation and cleanliness of dwellings, and to insure their precincts being kept in a wholesome condition. I am informed that frequent notices have been posted up warning people not to commit nuisances by throwing filth on the street grids, &c., but in no instance could I learn that legal or other notion had been taken to enforce the notice. The excuses alleged were that the “ notices were torn down,” and the difficulty of finding the offender,” but such difficulties would hardly be pleaded by an Authority in earnest about its sanitary duty. As a riparian authority they have neglected to secure such inspection of vessels as is directed by the Public Health Act (section 110). This inspection is for Brixham a matter of considerable importance, seeing that a very large number of small craft frequent this port. In conclusion, I would express my thanks to the clerk and other officers of this Authority and to Messrs. Green and Hayward for the ready and valuable - assistance they courteously afforded me. P. H. BLAXALL. January 1889. RECOMMENDATIONS. (1.) Under the advice of a skilled engineeff, provision should be made for the efficient ventilation and flushing of the sewers. House drains should be carefully examined, and where found faulty in construction or position, they should be reconstructed. Drains and sink pipes inside dwellings should be led outside, and cut off over a trapped inlet of a drain. Bath and lavatory pipes should not be led directly into soil pipes. (2.) Water-closets situated within dwellings should be placed against an outer wall with an opening to the external air. Soil pipes should be fixed outside the building and be continued upwards without diminution of diameter to a point above the roof. All water- closets, whether inside or outside dwellings, should be fitted with service cisterns and provided with separate means of flushing. Where closets and pans in communication with sewers occupy positions within dwellings dangerous to health, they should be abolished, and proper closet accommodation provided. Where no suitable place can be found for making such provision the question ought to be raised whether the house is fit for human habitation. In some cases where there is adequate space about dwellings it may be practicable to provide means of excrement disposal by adoption of a properly organised pail system, the contents of the pails being regularly removed in metal carts provided for the purpose. Both the pails and the carts should be frequently cleansed and disinfected. (3.) Steps should be taken to protect the town water supply against risk of pollution. To this end no direct communication should be allowed between water mains and water-closets. The Authority should cause examination to be made of the sources of other wnter supplies in use in the town, and a supply of assured wholesomeness should be substituted for any water of suspicious character. (4.) Slaughter-houses, nuisances, cleansing of footpaths, and the construc¬ tion of new streets and dwellings in the district of Lower Brixham