[Report 1898] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils.

  • Dorset (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1898] / Medical Officers of Health, Dorset Rural and Urban District Councils. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    M.O.H. Reports, 1898, Urban. Dairies and Cowsheds.—These were visited half-yearly by myself and the Inspector of Nuisances. At the May inspection 24 were visited, and were found in the following condition :—Good, 14 ; fair, 3 ; dirty, 7. At the November inspection 29 were visited, and found as follows :—Good, 12 ; fair, 9 ; dirty, 7 ; closed, 1. Three (2 in Longlleet and 1 in Parkstone) were marked dirty at each inspection. With one exception the Parkstone dairies were in a dirty condition when inspected in November. There is, however, in many instances a decided improvement in the general condition of cowsheds. The special report presented in November, 1897, has been considered, and it has been decided (a) that the amount of necessary cubic space for each cow shall be 800 cubic feet for cow¬ sheds in the parish of St. James', Poole, and 700 cubic feet for cowsheds outside this parish, (b) That the Poole Water Works Company’s water supply must be laid on to several cowsheds where the supply was delicient or dangerous. Premises in an Unsanitary Condition, etc.—The Inspector of Nuisances has visited several premises in an unsanitary condition, besides all houses in which infectious diseases were notified as occurring, and gave the necessary directions for cleaning, etc. My personal inspection was made in all cases where requested by. the Inspector. Unsound Food.—In one instance only was it necessary to condemn food as unfit, viz :—A consignment consisting of 16 small boxes of bloaters and 3 large boxes of sprats deposited at the L. Sc S.W.R. goods shed yard, on November 19th. Disinfection.—The disinfection of premises where infectious diseases were notified as having occurred was thoroughly carried out by the Inspector of Nuisances and his assistants. During the summer the courts and alleys in the town were cleansed and white¬ washed as in previous years. Nuisances.—These were dealt with ordinarily by the Inspector, to whom all complaints were referred for enquiry, etc. Where necessary he appealed to me for advice and instructions. Sewerage Scheme.—Contract No. 4 is now practically completed. The districts now sewered (with the exception of portions of the Sandecotes, Court Hill, and lleckford Park Estates) are Branksome Park, Parkstone, and Upper Longfleet. Most of the sewers have been ready for use for some time past, but up to the present only about 260 houses have been connected with the sewers, this number is only about a quarter of the houses which abut on the roads sewered. Some immediate steps should be taken to compel owners of property to connect with the system, and so prevent the ground around the existing cesspools (which in many cases are in close proximity to the dwelling-house) becoming saturated with sew-age. In conformity with the requirements of the Local Government Board, I have, as in previous years, made frequent inspections of the various parts of the district. I have again to acknowledge the very valuable and careful assistance rendered me by the Inspector of Nuisances, Mr. Richard Smith, jun., wrho carries out the duties of his office writh courtesy, zeal, and thoroughness. Poole Port Sanitary Authority.—Dr. H. A. Lawton. I have the honour to submit to you my report as Port Medical Officer of Health for the year ending December 31st, 1898, and in so doing have again much pleasure in being able to give a very satisfactory account of the healthy condition of the seamen on board of the vessels which have entered and left the Port of Poole during the year. No case of Infections Disease has been either certified or notified. The same Inspection of Vessels by the Harbour Authorities, Board of Trade and Customs Officials, have been made as in previous years. Inspections.—The number of vessels inspected by the Sanitary Officials was 113, of this number 87 (i.e., 75 British and 12 Foreign) were classed as “ good ” ; 22 (i.e., 21 British and 1 Foreign) were classed as “ fair ” ; while 4 (all British) were classed as “ dirty.” Those classed as dirty were cleansed without notices being served. Deaths. Three deaths were registered as Having occurred within the Port of Poole, viz:—1.—Male, aged 17 years, accidental drowning, June 9th. 2.—-Male aged 43 years, accidental drowning, July 15th. 3.—Male, aged 42 years, found drowned, September 17th. Portland.—Dr. D. J. Lawson. I have the honour to submit my report for the year ended 31st December 189 The area of the Portland Urban Sanitary District is 2897 acres. Population.—The population in 1891 was 9,443. Since that time it has increased considerable, as the result of extensive government works etc. There is a good deal of fluctuation in the numbers employed ; so that it is very difficult to form a correct estimate of the true population. It was probably about 10,000 in the middle of 1898. The statistics given in this report have therefore been based on this figure.
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