SANITARY CONDITION OF THE SUBURBS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 5005, 5 March 1877, Page 3

SANITARY CONDITION OF THE SUBURBS.

The following report from tho MedicAl Officer to the Local Board of Health has been forwarded to us for publication : Worcester street west, Christchurch, March 1, 1877. To the Chairman of the Christchurch District Board of Health. Sir, —I have the honour to report that, in accordance with instructions, I, accompanied by tho Inspector, Mr Pearce, visited tho outskirts and suburb* of the towu, in order to form an opinion as to the advisedness of extending the pan system of sewage removal. I understand that at present the use of pans is not enforced even within tho town, and lhat outside the city boundaries middens or cesspits are, with few exceptions, in general use. Bearing in mind that typhoid fever and infantile diarrhoea (in very many oases merely a masked form of typhoid) are endemic in the district, and that these diseases aro closely associated, whether by origin or contagion, or both, with accumulations of human fm;al evacuations, and that there is ample foundation for the belief that the contagion of typhoid remains active for considerable periods, and may bo borne by the circulation of tho water of tho subsoil for considerable distances, I think there cannot be two opinion* uo to the groat danger which attends the use of the oommon unwullod midden, especially in a

porous gravelly soil such us that on which tho city stands. Wo undoubtedly owe it to our excellent artesian water supply that typhoid is not rampant in this town, and I have demonstrated on a previous occasion that,following tho grucml adoption of artesian wells, there was a marked and steady decline in tho mortality from fever. The level of the artesian water is steadily sinking at tho rate of something like two inches a vear. In tho higher parte of tho town tho Wafer does not. rise to tho surface, and as soon as tho level sinks so low that tho water is subject to contamination by percolation from the surrounding soil, a new element of danger will bo introduced. I believe that I have ample grounds for stating that, within tho town bolt, typhoid fever is far from common, and this I attribute to the general use of pans, whioh restrict the risk of contagion within narrow boundaries and short periods. Tho conclusion at which I have arrived is, that the town itself and the suburbs, indeed within a radius which can bo worked within a reasonable cost, tho use of soil pane ehould bo enforced ■ The pans should bo emptied with sufficient frequency at not longer intervals than once a week, at all events during the summer months, and care should bo taken that tho number of pans should be proportioned to tho number of inhabitants of tho dwelling, so that there may bo no risk of splashing and overflow j Ibis would apply especially to hotels and manufactories. . . . . , Tho pans at present in use are calculated with proper usage, to suffice for six adults for one week or thereabouts. The contractor, Mr Brighlling, tells mo that it is a common thing for the pans in use at hotels to bo full to overflowing; but this is, in nonio 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 bo publio conveniences of this description in tho town, and that there should bo earth-closets, so as to diminish the risk of dissrrnination of typhoid by those using them, diarrlur * being a chief symptom of this diat'usoj indeed, I would suggest (hat in all schools, hotels, and factories, tho use of earthclosets should be enforced, ami that facilities should also be placed in the way of private persons who may wish to adopt tho earthJ think it is worth considering whether a better form of pan could not bo adopted. Mr UrighUing Utllu nn' Mint, tho proecut pans do not las' much longer than two years, At Koehdule, where the p.m system is carried out in great perfection, wooden tubs are used, strengthened with iron bands, and provided with a lid, these are found to last muon longer than iron pans. U would bo a great improvement, if practicable, to construct the pans with a perforated false bottom, so as to separate the solids front the liquids, J his would undoubtedly considerably delay fermentation of tint contents--1 hrg to suggest, that tho R»ard might consider whether a bettor system of removal could not ho adopted, L mean, whether without creating a nuisance, it would not be perfectly pracl,•cable to remove the pans bodily to the reserve, substituuni? » f«*h P»«. “"f. having the one removed thoroughly scouted out. At Kochdala this plan is adopted, the pan. being removed in the day time m specially constructed cart; to make h.sjl applicable hero, however, the Koohdalo system would need to bo .Unphfled.so u. to enable more of the pans lo be removed m one waggon. Mr Biightling thinks that with ho execJion of tho first outlay, this P«uld fo done without creating a heavier charge on tho mbabi

The plan might be triad experimentally before applying it on any large scale. Asa matter of minor importance, which Would assist to promote tho comfort of those using tho pans, I would suggest that after the pans are emptied, they should be dredged out with an ounce or so of earbolate of lime. This would remove tho offensive stale smell which clings to the pans. The earbolate is excessively 'cheap If bought in bulk j I believe it ooold bo imported for something under 10 shillings a hundredweight. It U an excellent disinfectant, and it would bo well that the public ehould also be able to obtain it cheaply, for use in oases of fever, and other contagious diseases. I havo to report that I visited the night-soil reserve et present in use. The old soil pits ’arc perfectly sound, and overgrown with gras*. Tho present mode of disposing of tho contents of tho night cart* is by opening a tferoh, which, after receiving tho soil at night, is immediately covered in, a fresh trench being opened the next doy. I foiled to detect, either by sight or smell, anything in tho least degree offensive, although I stood sometime at tho border of the trench which had been used the previous night. At present, tho ground that is being dug over is of a wet, clayey nature, which would speedily effect tho disintegration of the night soil. Sand, however, if dry, is highly antiseptic, and will preserve organic matter undestroyed for an indefinite period. Might not tho soil be disposed of more profitably by allowing agriculturists to use it under proper supervision, receiving it on ploughed land and immediately borrowing it over ? I havo visited a number of place* where ; pigs are kept. In some instances tho sties wore clean and wholesome, and the monuro, ko., not allowed to aooumulate; in other ogees, however, they oould only be characterised as filthy, injurious to health, and an 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 on large holdings. The. question of nuisance apart from health hardly oomei within my province. I havo tho honour to be, Bir, Yours obediently, Llbwblltn Powell, M.D., Medical Officer.