Report of the Health Officer, Corporation of Madras Health Department.

  • Madras (India). Health Department.
Date:
[1917]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Health Officer, Corporation of Madras Health Department. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    25/110 (page 15)
    SANITATION—GENERAL. Twenty Sanitary Inspectors, one for each Division, were working during the year ■under review. In a large number of cases sanitary defects within a dwelling house, cattle-yard, stable, etc., which are simple in their nature, are remedied by personal talks and appeals. The list given on page 78 shows the actual number of cases taken cognisance of by this Department, and which necessitated the due observance of ^notification, prosecution, etc. Drainage. Although the City drainage operations are steadily progressing, there remain in some parts of the City, even in sewered areas, several huts and houses, the sewage from which is let into cess-pools or on to the streets. In some instances the situation of the huts is such as to make drainage arrange¬ ments impossible ; while in others the people are slow to recognise that it is not healthy io allow stagnation of sewage about their habitations. The City seems to be developing towards the west, and over sites which have been vacant for years, numerous bunglows are springing up. It is regrettable to note that in almost every case, no thought has been bestowed on the disposal of sewage which stagnates within the compound, in the road-side ditch, or into the next neighbour's com¬ pound. It is no wonder that people living in such houses complain of nuisance from mosquitoes, for, Culex mosquitoes are invariably found breeding in such stagnant pools. Sixteen tenements for scavengers were constructed in Pudupet near Harris Road Depot. Suparigunta Paracheri was opened up; and in accordance with Housing and the proposals sanctioned in Proceedings No. 18 of the Corporation Relief of Conges- * * ^ tion. meeting, dated 15th January 1918 and with a view to provide house sites for willing people at close quarters, the Corporation have decided to acquire a strip of land to the south of the paracheri, between it and Pycrofts .Road. Of three flush-out latrines proposed, only one was constructed in Audiappa Mudaly Street. That a much larger number of public latrines and Tines8*1011* ^a** ur*na^s are needed for public convenience is undoubtedly true ; but the Corporation may have also to consider whether the latrines and urinals will in any way materially decrease the number of nuisance cases. The urinal at the junction of Wall Tax Road and General Hospital Road has not proved useful, and the existing flush-out latrines have often been misused by people squatting at any place other than the spot specially provided for. Enquiry shows that there were once public urinals in this City, which from a sanitary point of view, were not a success. Many of these were converted into latrines in spite of the fact that there were public latrines, and 4iad therefore to be done away with. In the majority of cases it is the residents who misuse the public streets. One can see almost at any time of the day children led out of their houses to misuse the public street and public gutters, notwithstanding the existence of suitable lavatory accommoda¬ tion within the house.