The relation of modern engineering to public health and local government : read at Oxford before a meeting of municipal and sanitary engineers and surveyors, Feb. 18, 1876.

  • Acland, Henry W. (Henry Wentworth), 1815-1900.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The relation of modern engineering to public health and local government : read at Oxford before a meeting of municipal and sanitary engineers and surveyors, Feb. 18, 1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Health Office, or the Local .Government Board, is said to be divided into six departments :— 1. Legal. 4. Poor-Relief. 2. Engineering. 5. Medical, 3. Statistical. 6. Medical Legislation, In the Public Health Act of 1875, by far the greater number of clauses are necessarily devoted to subjects purely legal. Comparatively few are needed for the direction of the constituted Autho- rities in respect of the Medical Officer of Health, or of the Engineering Officer of Health, Every Authority is obliged to appoint both, as well as an Inspector of Nuisances; but either of the two chief officers may act in the last capacity also. The Engineering Officer or Surveyor has a very onerous duty. He has to execute and maintain what the science of medicine suggests as desirable to be attempted, to enforce and maintain cleanli- ness, and to provide pure air, pure water, dry and pure dwellings. All this is to be done, as far as the conditions of our climate and nation permit, for every site in the city; from the crowded alley to the palace; for every cottage on the hill-side, and for the princely, but often dangerous, dwelling, an English country-seat. There is a great future for the Sanitary Engineer in this country. The Institution of Engineers proudly boasts, that it aims at directing the great sources of powers in nature for the use and con- venience of man, Well have the British engineers striven to this end. They have invented count-