Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board on the fatal prevalence of scarlatina in the first (central) division of the Neath rural sanitary district / [John Spear].

  • Spear, John.
Date:
[1890]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board on the fatal prevalence of scarlatina in the first (central) division of the Neath rural sanitary district / [John Spear]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the inhabitants complain that the service is often discontinued. The insufficiency of the supply has been the subject of remonstrance by the Authority to the water company, and it has doubtless stood in the way of a much-needed extension of a general service. Of the remaining sixth, many are greatly in need of wholesome water. The inhabitants of certain cottages at the Abbey told me that they had to fetch water from a spring nearly half-a-mile away. At Burrows Boad, where a serious outbreak of enteric fever occurred last year, the people have to resort to a surface spring obviously much liable to chance pollution. Some 100 houses in various parts are supplied from surface wells often sunk in close proximity to defective drains and the like. It is stated that the Company’s water, in times of scarcity, becomes discoloured and unpleasant. On the whole, the water supply of the village must be regarded as exceedingly defective and unsatisfactory. The houses of Coedfranc are, in many instances, rendered unwholesome by the defective drainage arrangements to which I have referred, and by the unpaved and sewage-sodden state of their surroundings ; and, apart from this, there are a certain number which are unfit for habitation, from inherent defects of structure, from their dampness, their dilapidation, and the want of proper means of ventilation. Overcrowding too is occasionally met with. In a place known as “ Under the leat,” for example, I found a woman and four children were living and sleeping in one apartment of little more capacity than 1,000 cubic feet. There was a loft above, but the water came in in such a way that it could not be used. The room actually occupied was excessively damp, with a mud floor sunk beneath the ground level, and possessed of no through ventilation. A neighbouring family I found occupying, both for living and sleeping purposes, a similar habitation. It was said that, in wet weather, sewage from neighbouring premises, and storm water had welled up through the dilapidated floor and formed a foul pool beneath the beds. But, for domestic use, the people here have no convenient supply of water, and obviously a quite insufficient amount is used for purposes of household cleanliness. In each of these habitations a child had recently died from scarlatina. I visited the schools of the district, and found certain improvements needed in their sanitary condition. Bad cesspit privies are in use in connexion with all of them. The Skewen (Coedfranc) National Infant School is at times overcrowded, and, more especially the class-room, is inadequately ventilated. As regards ventilation, more care generally is required to maintain air inlets and outlets free from the obstruction of accumulated dust. The dairies and milkshops of the district are said all to be registered, but judging from what I saw of one at Coedfranc, it is clear that more effective regulation is required. This cowshed was dirty, dilapidated, and unventilated, with drainage and pig-stye nuisances about it, and the milk was strained and otherwise dealt with in the living room (and this not a clean one) of the family. I found no evidence of any association between the milk supply of the district and the scarlatina prevalence. Dr. Bussell, the Medical Officer of Health of the central district, has just resigned. The Inspector of Nuisances requires the supervision, direction, and assistance of a skilled officer. Hitherto this has not been given, there having been little official communication between him and the Medical Officer of Health. I conferred with the Sanitary Authority on September 23rd, at a special meeting called for the purpose. Besolutions were then adopted as follows:— 1. “ That the Surveyor report upon the drainage of Skewen (Coedfranc) and Neath Abbey.” 2. “ That the Surveyor report as to houses unfit for habitation.” 3. “ That the Clerk report as to the position the Authority now occupy with the Neath Water Company—as to what has already taken place, and as to what powers the Authority possess.” I described also the means that should be adopted by the Authority for controlling spreading disease, and for utilising the information received under their system of notification of infectious cases. The fact that they are now practically without the services of a Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Bussell having, as I have said, resigned) was felt naturally to be a difficulty in the way of establishing immediately such an organization as is here wanted.