[Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Wells City.

  • Wells (England). City Council.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1898] / Medical Officer of Health, Wells City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1/4
    MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT FOR 1898. To the Urban Sanitary Authority of the City of Wells. 9th January, 1899. Gentlemen, I beg to present my Annual Report drawn up in accordance with the instruc¬ tions issued by the Local Government Board. Lias and Limestone abundant in the hilly regions, beds of Red Marl and Gravel at lower levels. Trading and Agricultural for the most part. Large Paper Mills close by employ numerous hands; the manufacture of Brushes is also carried on within the City. Abundance of Water at all seasons is supplied by the Water Company at a pressure of about 100 lbs. to the square inch. It is well stored and of great purity, as the following extracts from a recent analysis made by Mr. Stoddart, the Public Analyst for Bristol will show. “ The results obtained are satisfactory in the highest degree, the four Samples were identical in composition, and exceptionally free from indications of organic pollution. In my experience it is extremely rare to find water yielding no observable trace of albuminoid Ammonia, this is the case with all your samples ; in all other respects the samples are quite beyond reproach.” The public drains are efficient and freely ventilated by shafts carried up to the roofs of houses, and other buildings. The Septic Tank is the system which has been decided on by the Council, and new works are to be erected on the old site when the necessary sanction has been obtained. Ashes, and other house refuse removed daily by carts, and conveyed to the Sewage farm. The Authority are making arrangements for carrying out this important work by their own servants, which I am convinced will be a great improvement on the old system of contract. I have previously reported the small two roomed building as inadequate and unsuitable, but as yet nothing has been done to enlarge it, the subject is again being ventilated by the Council, and I am not without hope of some action being taken shortly. No cases have been sent there during the year. A Committee has been appointed to inspect the Isolation Hospital, and adjacent land, with a view to purchase; also to look out for a site on which a Hospital or temporary buildings may be erected for the isolation of Small Pox cases, and in the meantime the Cherry Orchard property is to be retained for that purpose. In same condition as last year. Area of District, 720 Acres. Estimated Population, 4,900. Geology. Occupation. Water Supply. Drainage and Sewage Disposal. Scavenging. Isolation Hospital. Disinfecting Chamber.