Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary condition of Hatfield.

  • Low, Robert Bruce, 1846-1922.
Date:
[1889]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. R. Bruce Low's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary condition of Hatfield. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Dr. R. Bruce Low’s Report to the Local Government Board on the Sanitary Condition of Hatfield. tv George Buchanan, Medical Department, May 28, 1889. In his annual Report for 1887, the Medical Officer of Health for the Hatfield Rural Sanitary District, recording an exceptional prevalence and fatality of diarrhoea during that year in a particular part of Hatfield town, referred to this diarrhoea as promoted by 1. Absence of main sewer ventilation ; 2. Absence of efficient scavenging; 3. Insufficient house drainage ; 4. Defective slaughter-houses; 5. Existence of stables in confined spaces. In view of this report the Board wrote on February 24th, 1888, inquiring of the Rural Sanitary Authority what action had been decided upon in reference to the unwholesome conditions reported on by the Medical Officer of Health. In reply, the Local Authority stated on April 21st, that:— The above matters, besides receiving the Authority’s serious and full consideration, had been referred to its Inspector of Nuisances, who had remarked thereon as follows :— “1. The main sewer being properly trapped, no ventilation is required. “ 2. Scavenging is done to the satisfaction of the Inspector. “ 3. The more efficient drainage of several houses in the district is now in progress. 4. Slaughter-houses are kept clean to the satisfaction of the Inspector. “ 5. All stables are kept very clean and healthy.” And this communication of the Local Authority concluded with the expression of its “ firm opinion ” that the sanitary condition of its district was “ fairly good,” and that no special measures were required in relation thereto. The Board was not, however, content with the above assurances of the Local Authority, and on May 3rd intimated that in view of the state¬ ments of the Medical Officer of Health, the Local Authority’s reply was unsatisfactory. Thus the matter stood until, at the end of January of the current year, the annual renort for 1888 of the Hatfield Medical Officer of Health having been received by the Board, it was found to contain a passage as follows;— “ During the year one portion of the main sewer was found to be blocked in Hatfield in the lower part of the town; it was found to be in a very bad condition, and much out of level. In part of it the sewage remains standing, and there must be constant leakage into the subsoil. It may here be remarked that it was just in this low- lying part of the town in which there were so many infant deaths last year (1887) from diarrhoea.” Once again, therefore, the Board wrote (February 12th, 1889) to the Local Authority adverting to the statements of the Medical Officer of Health, and inquiring what action was being taken by the Authority in the matter of this sewer. In reply, the Local Authority stated (on 8th March) that:— “ Upon referring the question of the condition of the main sewer in the lower part of the town of Hatfield to their Inspector of Nuisances, 150.—5/89. Wt. 1883. E. & S. A