[Report 1909] / Medical Officer of Health, Devon County Council.

  • Devon (England). County Council.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1909] / Medical Officer of Health, Devon County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    council, to prevent the river pollution at Fordton, Crediton. Dr. Webb says there is none in Kingsbridge, save for the tidal estuary near the quay. Rural districts :—Dr. Date reports that, as far as possible, pollution of rivers and streams is avoided in the Culmstock area. Dr. Webb states that there is no pollution of rivers or streams in the Kingsbridge area that would affect the general health of the population. Dr. Mapleton reports the pollution of streams at Coombe and Hacombe in the Newton Abbot district. Dr. Young states that, with the exception of the Okehampton (urban) sewage fields, there is little river pollution in his district. Dr. Noy Scott reports that the rivers, in the Plympton St. Mary area, are free from any serious or important pollution, and no public water supply is endangered. The medical officers of health for Tavistock and Torrington report that no pollution of rivers has been discovered in their areas. SCAVENGING. This subject must, in the near future, receive more atten- tion at the hands of sanitary authorities, for it is now an established fact, that the presence of house and stable refuse for any length of time in the vicinity of dwellings, is a source of danger. These collections are favourite harbours and breeding grounds for flies, which may be, and often are, the carriers of several diseases. Urban districts :—The Medical Officer of Health for Ashburton regrets that his Council has not adopted his suggestion as to covered carts ; whilst the Medical Officer of Health for Barnstaple states that the introduction of covered carts has been a great advantage, and he advises that the old wooden dustbins should be abolished, and replaced by galvanized receptacles. Dr. Harris still thinks that a destructor is more desirable for Dartmouth, than the present method of disposal (outside the district), by a steam lorry. Dr. Baton reports that the destructor is working well at Exmoutli, but he advises the introduction of covered galvanized ash-bins to facilitate ^he work. The Medical