[Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Eccles Borough.

  • Eccles (Greater Manchester, England). Borough Council.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Report 1895] / Medical Officer of Health, Eccles Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/46 (page 33)
    That the present Council are aware of the seriousness of existing conditions and are endeavouring to remedy them is evident from the following :— In nearly all houses passed by the Building Committee during the last two or three years, some form of water closet has been provided. Another important step was taken by the Council on October 7th last, when they adopted the fol- lowing resolution of the Sanitary Committee, passed at the monthly meeting held on September 11th, “That the Sanitary and Nuisance Inspector be in- structed in future, when issuing preliminary notices for the abatement of nuisances arising from defective privy middens, to include a notice requiring the adoption of the water-carriage system as being in this Committee’s opinion the only satisfactory means of abating such nuisance, and preventing a recurrence thereof.” During the past year I am glad to state that 51 of these structures have been replaced by 10G water or slop water closets, and ash tubs were provided, the latter by the Corporation, but if the rate of alteration does not exceed that of the past two years, it will take GO years to remedy these existing nuisances. It is satisfactory to note that the owner of a row of 12 houses has, during the past year, voluntarily adopted slop water closets and ash tubs to replace the privy middens, and it is to be hoped that more landlords will follow in his foot- steps. Report on Water Closets for Cottage Property.—A special report on this matter was presented to you in June. The following are the chief matters of importance mentioned : — The Frost.—The cold period commenced on December 30th, 1894, and termi- nated on March 16th, 1895, practically a continuous frost for over 70 days, the mean temperature in January being 34-4, which was 4'odeg. below the average for that month, and in February 3P6 or 8'3deg. below the average. Slop Closets.—There were over 280 of these in use in the district during the frost, and not one of them became frozen. Where they had been fixed for some time there were few stoppages from foreign bodies thrown down, but when first fixed careless people sometimes threw down such things as salmon tins, wood, bricks, rags, cloths, &c. In some cases the sides of the passage between the seat and the bottom of the closet were foul. Ordinary 1 Voter Closets.—An investigation of 223 of these structures in cottage property was made, and it was found that in all cases where the structure was away from the house, the water in the cisterns and pipes had been frozen where they were not cased in, but where the structure was built against the house, and the cistern and pipes cased in, or in the few cases were the cistern was inside the scullery or kitchen, there was no freezing. Conclusions.—From the point of cleanliness the ordinary water closet is preferable, and from the foregoing evidence, if the closet is built against the house and the cistern placed inside the kitchen or scullery and well cased,