[Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Aspull D.C.

Aspull (England). District Council.

Date:: 1897

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1897] / Medical Officer of Health, Aspull D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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breatli repeatedly, the wall in front is saturated with a noxious moisture, and, although the cubic space in the building may come up to the required amount, the animals are in reality living in a polluted and unhealthy atmosphere, and under conditions the most favourable for conveying infection to each other. Drainage. The newer erections are better provided in this respect, with the exception that in many of them the gulleys are inside the building, in most others the liquid runs its own course, with little or no attempt to dii-ect it to a useful purpose, and by finding its way amongst the hollows and irregularities of badly paved yards, creates an unwholesome and disagreeable appearance. Good tanks are much in need, botli in a sanitary and economic point of view. It must be at once apparent that a Avell paved, lighted, and ventilated building, well attended to and clean, of a comparatively small cubic air space, is much healthier than one with a larger air space, but the other- essentials being reversed, also, that however diligent a cow-keeper may be, it is next to the impossible for him to make his place presentable where the buildings and surroundings are bad. The question of unpaved back yards is one tliat I should like to again submit to your Council. The outbreak of infectious disease, especially Typhoid Fever, is nearly always on premises where the back yards are faulty. In many instances the privies and ashpits are on a higher level than the floors of the living rooms. As these receptacles must of necessity be periodically emptied into the yard before removal, the ground, often the playground for numerous children, must become a constant source of danger. Nothing less, in instances like these just mentioned, can possibly have any good effect, except efflcient paving or flagging, and in such a manner as to be easily cleansed down. This condition of back yards, together with the wet ashpits formerly so common, which have been largely remedied by your energetic action, has been, I feel sure, the chief cause of so many outbreaks of Zymotic disease. Another mattei- I should also like to impress, and that is, the necessity of more regular limewashing, and cleaning down of the interior of all dwellings, these appai-ently simple matters ought to be rigorously enforced in and about premises opening into enclosed yards or spaces. The sanitary condition of the district generally, is without doubt undergoing steady improvement. The old fashioned ashpit system is being rapidly replaced by mure improved buildings. The completion and satisfactory working of the sewage scheme has been a great relief to the preA-ious system of cesspool and haphazard draiiiage. Frequent inspections of the district have been made by myself and Nuisance Inspector. 82 neAv privies and ashpits have been built during the year. 181 notices have been issued for the abate- ment of nuisances. 28 houses have been fumigated and cleaned doAvn, and many other matters of small importance, brought under my notice by the Nuisance Inspector, have been remedied Avithout the usual formal proceedings. In my previous annual report, I drcAv your attention to the condition of Ash Lane and Withington Lane, these roads over which passes a very considerable amount of traffic, are still in a very unsatisfactory condition. No offensive trades have been carried on in the district, and it has not been necessary to condemn any articles of food exposed for sale. The Avater supply has been abundant, and of good quality. I am. Gentlemen, Obediently youre, L. COOKL, Medical Officer of Health.