Volume 3

A treatise on hygiene and public health / edited by Thomas Stevenson and Shirley F. Murphy.

Date:
1892-1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on hygiene and public health / edited by Thomas Stevenson and Shirley F. Murphy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    447/492 (page 435)
    order ; but ' land ' (though it includes springs) is not defined as includ- ing water. A local authority is required to compel an owner to obtain a water supply at or near his house, and, in a burgh, may compel him to take it into his house. The Public Health (Water) Act of 1878 does not extend to Scotland, and there is no power to prevent a house from being built without a proper water supply. Owing to the physical features and conformation of the country, however, water is plentiful in most parts of Scotland. V. PRIVIES, WATER-CLOSETS, ETC. The Public Health (Scotland) Act provides that any local authority, Public Health [Scot- land ward or burghal, may provide and maintain public conveniences, ^^^g^if 16' and may require them to be provided in sufficient numbers in school- p0\ice [Scotfand] houses or factories. The Burgh Police Act furnishes a detailed code Act, Sees. 246-256. for burghs. Every water-closet, earth-closet, and privy is subject in regard to situation, dimensions, material, and construction to the approval of the burgh commissioners, whether built after the passing of the Act or (if they so decide) before. Ashpits are similarly under control; special provision is made for the flat system of occupation, which is very common in Scottish burghs; and cesspools are prohibited except where unavoidable. Bye-laws may be made for removing the contents of such receptacles within reasonable periods. It appears, therefore, that the Scottish Acts, as applying to burghs, contain detailed regulations which in England are left to be pre- scribed by bye-laws. In landward districts the want of power to deal with privies and ashpits, both in existing and in new houses, is much felt, especially when the population is concentrated in villages. VI. SCAVENGING AND CLEANSING There is no direct provision in the Public Health (Scotland) Acts Landward for securing, either by bye-law or otherwise, the scavenging or cleansing scavenging, of the whole or part of a landward district, and some facilities for the purpose are urgently required. It has, however, been held competent for a landward local authority to contribute towards the expense of a scavenger for a populous part of their district, the whole district paying the rate; and it would be possible for a county council to deal with the matter to some extent by means of bye-laws for the pre- vention of nuisances. The existing power to form special districts for water supply and drainage might with advantage be extended so as to cover scavenging. The cleansing of burghs is fully regulated by the Burgh Police Burgh scavenging Act, the provisions of which are generally similar to those in force in and cleansing (Burgh England. The dust and other refuse of the burgh is vested in the com- AcYCSecs?°107-127 missioners, whose duty it is to cause all streets and footpaths to be 316). properly swept and cleansed. For the deposit and treatment of dust, &c, the commissioners are empowered to acquire land, compulsorily, if need be, with the authority of the Board of Supervision and without a provisional order. They may cause carts to go round daily for the collection of refuse, and, if they exercise the power, may cause ashpits to be closed. They are bound to water the streets and to employ a sufficient number of scavengers. The occupiers are required to sweep and wash common stairs—a very necessary provision in Scottish towns, f f 2