Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the township of Bishop Auckland in the county of Durham / by Thomas Webster Rammell, Superintending Inspector.

  • Rammell, Thomas Webster
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the township of Bishop Auckland in the county of Durham / by Thomas Webster Rammell, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    cases occurred in the most confined and dirty parts of the town • two cases in what is called Wear Chare, and the other two in Back Bondgate-street. Typhus is found in the narrow streets and en- tries, and in the most confined and dirty parts of the town. It was ' more prevalent 14 or 15 years ago than of late years. It was very j often occasioned through the occupation of cottages before they j were in a dry and fit state. Excessive crowding also was clearly j traceable as a cause. We have had frequent epidemics and j measles, and sometimes of a very fatal character. Small-pox also j we have had frequently, but it is not so common now, in conse- j quence of the greater attention paid to vaccination. Ague is not j common here. I have seen two or three cases within the last four j years amongst men employed in draining the land. I was formerly Union surgeon, but I have resigned that ofiice, J and cannot speak so well now as to the haunts of fever. The i worst cases, however, have been usually confined to the worst I drained and most filthy parts of the town. The numerous small open drains in the town tend materially to vitiate the atmosphere. 1 I consider the worst localities to be Bailies-yard, Fenkell-street, I the yards in Back Bondgate and Townhead. These are the worst drained, and in them undoubtedly the most sickness is found. I consider this part of the country naturally a healthy one.» The town stands upon a dry situation. I have not the least doubt, { that if the town was better drained and supplied with water, its 1 health would be improved. The Kev. G. E. Green, incumbent of Bishop Auckland, states,— I can speak to the worst localities in the town being those j mentioned by Mr. Jobson. I would add Peacocks-yard in Newgate- j street to the east. There is also often a great deal of illness in j South-terrace. The last-named place is on the road from Bishop Auckland to St. Andrew Auckland. These houses are tolerably good, but they are placed low, and there is a ditch behind them.-I The state of the drainage of the places named is of the worst J description, and the overcrowding excessive. I have known j many instances of two or three families living in One small room. 1 Etherly-lane, near Townhead, is a most filthy place. There j the houses are very much overcrowded, and I have seen a good ] deal of illness in them. . I can speak to the very bad condition of the lodging-houses,, and to the sickness prevailing amongst them. Mr. G. Greenwell, the relieving officer, after speaking of the serious charges laid upon the Union for sick relief, said,— Most of the sickness has been in those localities the list of which was given by Mr. Jobson. Diarrhoea has lately been very bad, and we have had two cases of cholera within the last two months. This witness put in the following return of the sum paid in casual relief on account of sickness, principally diarrhcea