[Report 1902] / Medical Officer of Health, Middleton Borough.

  • Middleton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1902] / Medical Officer of Health, Middleton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/42 (page 34)
    Foul Rivers. During the greater part of the year, numerous complaints have been made respecting the foul and offensive condition of the rivers which run through the Borough, and in accordance with your instructions I had them under observation during the greater part of the year. Upon investigation, I found that sewage was being discharged into all the streams, except the river Whit, by neighbouring authorities. The river Wince was most offensive during the greater part of the year, and the smell arising from it was abominable and most offensive, and was perceptible for some considerable distance away from the stream itself, and the inhabitants of Peach Bank found it almost unbearable ; at times it had the appearance of a large open sewer with a large quantity of crude sewage passing down it. The sewage passing down this stream is undoubtedly discharged into it by two neighbouring authorities who are situated higher up the stream than our Borough, and one of its tributaries has for its source a sewer which discharges into a hollow in the ground, and it is hoped, that for the sake of the health and comfort of the people residing on the banks of this stream, that some steps will be taken to make it a clean and inoffensive stream of water. Foul Lodges. Owing to numerous complaints respecting the foul con¬ dition of certain lodges in the Borough, it was necessary to take legal proceedings against one firm. The case has been adjourned on three occasions, and is to be heard on the nth March, 1903.