The annual report of Mr. F. J. Allen, Sanitary Inspector for the Urban District of Rushden, has been submitted to the Rushden Urban Council, and we take from it the following extracts:-

I am pleased once more to be able to record that steady progress has been maintained, and that the general public are continuing to appreciate the efforts to improve the sanitary arrangements at houses. The moral and legal support so readily given at all times by the Sanitary Committee again proved a valuable factor in surmounting an occasional obstacle in the way of opposition.

The number of written notices and letters sent in with respect to the abatement of nuisances, etc., is 274, whilst 125 verbal intimations were given. It has been found necessary on 20 occasions to serve Statutory Notices to get some of the work hereinafter mentioned carried out; these notices are only served when absolutely necessary, thus avoiding any undue publicity.

The number of notices outstanding at the close of the year was 38, though most of the work specified on these notices was in hand on the 31st December, 1914.

The number of complaints received was 121, and of this number nine were referred to the Surveyor and one had reference to what proved to be leaks of coal gas in road. Several complaints were found on investigation to be outside the scope of sanitary law. Treating the information gained as strictly confidential in so far as the identity of the informant is concerned, encourages people to lay their grievances and complaints in connection with insanitary conditions before the Sanitary Department. This enables one to be fairly well informed with regard to many insanitary conditions that otherwise might escape observation.

Town Planning Act, etc.

The important duties involved under this Act have materially increased the work of this department. Not only a house to house inspection has to be made with a view of discovering the existence of any nuisance, breach of bye-law or regulations, or of any premises unfit for human habitation, but a proper record has to be kept, containing particulars, among other things, of the sanitary arrangements, condition of living and bed-rooms, state of the backyards, and whether the house or part of the house is overcrowded or not.

Under this heading 106 houses have been inspected, but only in the case of two premises, situate in High Street South, was it found necessary to report unfitness for human habitation, whilst closing orders were issued against four houses situate in Duck Street owing to the owner having failed to close same voluntarily, as promised by a specified date.

Considerable attention has naturally been given to the sanitary arrangements, and particular attention paid to the condition of roofs, floors, and walls, and to the existence or otherwise of any evidence of damp inside the house.

In a number of houses the ground water was found to have risen up the walls to a considerable height, caused by capillary attraction, through the absence of an efficient damp-proof course in the foundations of walls. This is one of the most serious items to deal with in regard to house inspection, often causing them to be damp and unhealthy, to remedy which is a most difficult problem.

A large number of defective floors were discovered, caused by dampness and insufficient sub-floor ventilation, which became affected by the fungus commonly known as dry rot and scientifically called “Merudiuslacrymans.”

The growth of the disease is due to the use of unseasoned timber and the lack of ventilation being provided for air space beneath the floors. The disease is conveyed by means of spores from affected timber, and will quickly spread from room to room of a house, while the smell is most unpleasant and of a peculiar earthy nature.

Houses and Tenants

A very considerable portion of the laws affecting public health deals with the condition of the dwelling. It is unfortunately more difficult to deal with the personal neglect and general defect in character of some tenants of houses, and these are treated with much greater diffidence and uncertainty by law, no ready means being known for instilling into the careless and destructive person the qualities of good housekeepers. We have therefore to be content with our means to compel owners of house property to do what is necessary to make amendments in those conditions of the buildings which are calculated to affect health prejudicially.

Improvements to House Drainage, etc.

Special attention has again been given to the improvement in house drainage and sanitary plumbing, and steady progress has been made in connection with the sanitary fittings and drainage of old houses. Particular attention has also been given to ensure that the upper ends of ventilating shafts are at least four feet above the eaves or top of the window within 20 feet thereof.

The drains of 35 premises have been taken up and re-laid. In some cases it was found that the drains had been well laid, but the joints had been made with a patent jointing material, without cement ring, which appears to have deteriorated, thus causing the drain to leak badly when testing with the smoke machine, the only remedy being the taking up and re-laying the whole of the drain.

Four additional water closets have been provided in factories, six in private houses, and five additional inspection chambers have been provided to existing drains.

The Paving of Yards and Passages

A considerable amount of work has been accomplished in this connection, but much remains to be done in regard to some of the back-ways and passages. Several complaints were received during the year owing to the almost impassable state of some of these back-ways. Seventy-six yards and approaches have been paved or repaired, and an attempt has been made to get several of the back-ways put into a proper state of repair, but this generally meets with a good deal of opposition from the owners of property.

House Refuse and Water Supply

The water supply of the town appears to be excellent, both in quality and quantity.

Six samples of water taken from surface wells were analysed during the year; four samples were found to be unfit for domestic purposes, in each case the well has been closed and the town water laid on to premises.

From the report of the surveyor and Water Works Engineer (Mr. W. B. Madin) the following particulars have been obtained:-

The average daily consumption of water was 12.72 gallons; 10.79 gallons for domestic and municipal purposes and 1.93 for trade purposes.

The rainfall for the year 1914 was 20.11 inches. The heaviest day’s rainfall during the year was on June 9th, when 1.16 inches were registered in 24 hours.

Annual Rainfall For The Past Five Years

1910	21.98 inches
1911	17.10 inches
1912	27.06 inches
1913	19.01 inches
1914	20.11 inches
Average	21.05 inches

The total amount of rainfall for the year 1914 was 0.94 inches below the average for the previous five years.

The total amount of house refuse removal would be greatly facilitated if occupiers would burn all the refuse possible. This simple sanitary precaution would not only facilitate the work of refuse removal, but would do much to reduce the nuisance caused by flies, which are so prevalent during certain seasons of the year. A large amount of the refuse carted away could be profitably consumed by the householder.

During the year 143 houses have been supplied with proper galvanised iron dust bins with tight fitting lids, thus doing away with the insanitary boxes and tubs in use previously.

Common Lodging-house

As in the previous year, only one common lodging-house is on the register, and this is situated in High-street South, and gives accommodation to 27 persons. This house has been maintained in a cleanly state, with the usual cleansing and lime washing carried out.

Factory and Workshops

A tabulated statement showing work done under this head is appended to the report of the Medical Officer of Health, but I may add that a register of workshops is also kept. The workshops are periodically inspected, and include bake-houses. In connection with the required lime-washing and cleansing, etc., of these premises, eight notices were served, while in one case it was found necessary to take up and relay the whole of the floor of the bake-house.

One notice was received from H.M. Inspector of Factories calling attention to the walls and ceilings of a bake-house which required lime-washing. These premises were inspected, and it was found, on inspection, that the bake-house had been recently lime-washed and the dates appeared to be in order.

There are 15 bake-houses on the register.

Outworkers’ Lists

Fifty-nine lists of outworkers have been received, relating to 594 outworkers. These figures include two lists relating to two outworkers received from other local authorities.

Twenty-four lists, relating to 83 outworkers, have been forwarded to other local authorities.

The work at which the outworkers were engaged was principally connected with boot and shoe making and processes incidental thereto.

Infectious disease occurred on the premises of four outworkers, the articles discovered being disinfected before being returned to their respective owners.

Infectious Diseases

A total of 58 cases of infectious diseases have been reported during the year. These have all been kept under observation and disinfectants supplied to the infected houses.

Seventy-four houses and rooms have been sprayed and fumigated after convalescence or deaths.

It was found necessary on two occasions during the year to disinfect portions of factories owing to cases of scarlet fever having been discovered therein.

Forty-one notifications of tuberculosis were received by your Medical Officer of Health. Twenty-one consumptive homes and rooms were fumigated after either the death or removal of patient. Seventeen lots of infected bedding were destroyed after deaths from tuberculosis, and in most cases new bedding was supplied by the Council.

Several notified persons applied for pocket spittoons during the year; this is a most needful article in assisting one to expectorate without causing danger to other members of the community.

All the drains belonging to houses from which diphtheria was notified were tested with the smoke machine and were found to be defective on nine properties, affecting 19 houses. These have since been repaired and the houses cleansed.

In two instances as many as three cases occurred on the same premises, the drains of one of these premises had been constructed without being intercepted from sewer in roadway, the ventilating shaft being situate within two feet six inches from the top of bedroom window, where three cases of diphtheria had occurred, one of which proved fatal. These premises have since been properly intercepted from main sewer in roadway, and the ventilating shaft carried up at least four feet above the eaves of building.

The number of written notices sent to the schools on the instructions of your Medical Officer of Health, either requesting the head teachers not to allow children to attend school or informing them that the houses were free from infection, was 83.

Private Slaughter-houses

There are eight slaughter-houses on the register, of which only three are subject to annual licence. Visits are made while slaughtering is in progress, and the meat carefully inspected. Two hundred and thirty-one visits have been made to slaughter-houses and 267 visits to butchers’, fishmongers’, fruiterers’ shops, etc.

The following are particulars of diseased and unsound meat and other foods destroyed during the year:-

Tuberculous Meat – One complete carcase of heifer and all offal belonging thereto; two complete carcases of pigs and all offal belonging thereto; the affected parts of three oxen; 680 lbs. of beef; 68 lbs. of pork.

Eighteen “plucks” or “hinges”; 23 sheep and bullocks’ livers (“flukes”); 50 lbs. unsound fish (plaice); three parcels of rabbits (14); 53 tins of salmon, fruit, etc. (blown tins); 340 lbs. tomatoes.

There are 30 cowkeepers and 14 dairymen and milk-sellers on the register. Several improvements have been affected in connection with these premises, including the usual lime-washing and cleansing of premises. The cowsheds are nearly all attached to farm premises, and, therefore, only for a brief period of the year are the cows kept indoors.

It is one’s aim to have at least 600 cubic feet of air space for each cow, the standard included in the bye-laws. This is, generally speaking, easily obtained.

The milk vessels were found to be maintained in a cleanly state, and in most cases a good supply of water was available; only on one case was it found necessary to complain of the supply, the premises being eventually connected to the mains of the town water supply.

It is to be noted that seven of the registered milk-sellers reside outside the Urban District.

Petroleum Acts

Eight licences have been issued for the sale of petroleum and six for the sale of carbide of calcium. The stores are kept in conformity with the regulations in force in this district and are periodically inspected. One new store has been built during the past year.

Sale of Food and Drugs Acts

I am indebted to the courtesy of the Clerk of the Northants County Council for the following account of the samples taken under Sale of Food and Drugs Acts in this district:-

	Samples taken	Number adulterated
Milk	12	Nil

I am pleased once more to record the absence of any necessity for instituting legal proceedings in order to secure the abatement of nuisances, etc., during the year, although in some instances pressure had to be brought to bear, in order to obtain compliance with the notices served.

Once more I gladly avail myself of this opportunity of conveying my heartiest thanks to the Chairman of the Council, the Chairman of the Sanitary Committee, and to the members of the Council generally, for the continued support and consideration extended to me.

I have also to thank the Medical Officer of Health and other Officers of the Council, who have at all times given me their cordial co-operation and assistance.