The annual report of Mr. F. J. Allen, Sanitary Inspector for Rushden, as presented at a meeting of the Rushden Urban Council, is as follows:-

I beg to herewith present my fifth annual Report of the work done under the Sanitary Department, and the sanitary circumstances of the District during the past year.

Systematic inspection of the district has been made in accordance with the General Orders of the Local Government Board, The Public Health Act, 1875, and Section 17 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and the Regulations made thereunder.

During the past year 150 complaints of nuisances were received, being 13 less than the number received in the previous year.

The majority of nuisances discovered were remedied upon receipt of informal notices only, but in 16 cases the matter had to be reported to the Committee, and after approval by the Council legal notices were served. I am pleased however, to say that in no case have legal proceedings been necessary.

Two hundred and ninety nine Sanitary Notices were issued, 260 of which were complied with, 39 notices being outstanding at the close of the year.

House Drainage, etc.

House drainage has again received careful attention. Nearly all the houses in the Urban part of the district are now supplied with water-closets.

During the past year the smoke and water test has been applied to the drainage and fittings of 63 properties comprising 222 houses. Defects were found to exist on 73 premises. These defects have been remedied, and in 41 cases the drains taken up and re-laid under the supervision of this department.

Five inspection chambers have been provided to old drains and six new iron covers fixed to existing inspection chambers.

Nineteen choked ventilating shafts to drains were discovered and dealt with.

Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act.

In addition to the number of houses inspected owing to cases of Infectious Disease, etc., 56 were inspected under the above mentioned Act. This is a decrease on previous years, referring chiefly to some of the older properties in the town.

The work of dealing with some of the older property was continued from 1914, and it was therefore necessary to make representations that four houses were unfit for human habitation.

Two of these houses have since been demolished, the remaining two have been rendered fit for human habitation by remedying the defects complained of.

During the past year the completing of the Council’s Housing Scheme has taken place, all the houses (41) being occupied at the close of the year. This has no doubt relieved the pressure on over-crowding to a large extent, but there are still a large number of houses with two families in occupation, which seems to show that more houses are still needed in the district.

Thirty six complaints were received from persons occupying houses in the district. The chief causes of complaint were either through the walls of dwelling being affected with dampness or that the owner had failed to keep the walls and ceilings in a sanitary condition. Where it was found necessary the owner, or agent, was written to or interviewed, which in most cases had the desired effect, the cause of complaint being remedied.

Van Dwellers

During feast week a number of vans situated in the Recreation Ground were inspected, when it was discovered that one van was in an over-crowded condition.

The Paving of Yards, etc.

During the year 35 yards have been repaired or paved in connection with dwelling houses.

Three of the back-ways leading to rows of cottages have been improved during the past year, while attempts are being made at the present time to induce several other owners of rows of cottages to improve the roadways leading to same.

Private Slaughterhouses, etc.

Visits are made to these premises at the time of slaughtering with a view of detecting any diseased or unhealthy conditions existing in the meat.

Two hundred and seventy seven visits have been made and 245 visits to butchers’ and fruiterers’ shops, etc.

There are eight slaughterhouses on the register, five being registered, and the remaining three being subject to annual license.

During the past year it has been found necessary to report three firms of butchers for having in their possession diseased or unsound meat, and one butcher for killing on unlicensed premises. In two instances, some of the meat having been sold or exposed for sale, proceedings were taken before the Magistrates at Wellingborough and a conviction obtained against both defendants.

No action was taken against the butcher for killing on unlicensed premises by the Rushden Council, but as this butcher had removed the carcase of (fevered) animal into the Thrapston Rural District with the purpose of dressing and selling the same for human food, action was taken by the Thrapston Inspector of Nuisances and a conviction obtained.

The third case, from a health point of view, was of a more serious and far reaching character. This man was charged with having in his possession unsound meat, the carcase of a cow, which a man in his employ had dressed and brought away from a Knacker’s Yard in the Rushden Urban District. The cart was stopped on the highway and the contents of the cart examined, when it was found to contain the carcase of a cow which had been dressed and prepared in the usual way as if intended for human food.

After the facts of the case had been carefully reported to and considered by the Council it was unanimously decided to take proceedings against the owner of meat and the driver of vehicle for being in possession of unsound meat.

The case was heard before the Magistrates at the Wellingborough Police Court and a conviction obtained against both defendants.

On appeal, the case was argued in the High Court, and after Counsel for the Appellants had argued on the point in dispute, their Lordships were unanimous in dismissing the “Appeal” with costs.

The above cases appear to me to show how necessary it is that all meat intended for the food of man should be dressed and prepared in a properly constructed and centralised building under proper supervision.

Unsound Meat and Other Foods

The following diseased meat and other foods were destroyed during the year:

Bakehouses

At the end of 1915 there were 16 workshop backhouses’ on the register of workshops, and these have all been kept in a cleanly condition and lime-washed periodically.

The floor of one bake house, owing to its defective condition, had to be taken up and re-laid with new tiles.

One complaint was received respecting a nuisance caused by smoke from a bake house chimney. The owner and occupier were written to and the premises have since become vacant.

Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops

There are a number of small general shops in the district where milk is sold, and these have been visited as in previous years, to see that the milk is kept as well as it is possible to be in shops where a mixed class of goods are sold.

During the year visits of inspection to premises in the occupation of registered cow-keepers to the number of 60 was made. It was found necessary on several occasions to impress upon cow-keepers the necessity of a regular daily flushing with water of all drain channels and floors.

One case of Scarlet Fever occurred on the premises of a milk dealer and measures had to be taken to safe-guard the milk supply by cutting off the shop premises from the inhabited part of the premises, etc.

Sale of Food and Drugs Acts

I am indebted to the courtesy of H. A. Millington, Esq, Clerk of the Northants County Council, for the following account of the samples taken under the above acts in this Urban District:

Fried Fish Shops

During the past year these shops have been kept up to the usual standard of cleanliness.

Common Lodging Houses

Only one house in the district is registered as a Common Lodging House, and this has been kept in accordance with the Bye-Laws during the past year. No complaint was received and no case of infectious disease occurred.

Knacker’s Yard

This yard which is situated on the outskirts of the town off the Newton Road is still in the same occupation.

One complaint was received during the year respecting the cesspit at these premises being allowed to overflow and foul the water of a pond in an adjoining field from which dairy cows were supplied with drinking water. This matter was reported to the Council and notice sent to the occupier to abate the nuisance complained of by carrying out certain structural alterations to the drains, which he did.

One other matter which should be mentioned was the complaint received respecting a Wellingborough butcher fetching meat from these premises and using same for the food of man.

Infectious Disease and Disinfection

During the year every house where a case of infectious disease occurred was visited and particulars as to schools attended, means of isolation, sanitary condition of premises, etc. were noted.

Frequent visits were made to see that isolation was properly carried out, it often being necessary to warn the occupants as to having visitors. It is to be regretted that many people do not realise the seriousness and danger to other people of visiting infected houses.

During the time soldiers were billeted in the town, many applications were received for the disinfection of foul or verminous articles of clothing, bedding, etc. but owing to the absence of a “steam disinfector” great difficulty was experienced in dealing with such a volume of articles as were sent for disinfection.

Fortunately, with the help of your Surveyor, a temporary disinfecting chamber was fixed up, where a large number of blankets, soldiers’ kits, etc. were fumigated, while a large number of articles were immersed in a strong disinfecting solution placed in a number of casks.

Ninety one notices were sent to the public and private schools respecting the exclusion of scholars during the infectious period of their homes.

The whole of the Public Elementary Schools were disinfected by means of spraying during the year.

The infected rooms at twenty four houses were stripped and cleansed after the rooms had been disinfected.

Factory and Workshop Act

Inspections numbering190 were made of Factories, Workshops and Workplaces during the year.

The drains at four factories were found to be defective, the most common complaint being due to the dirty condition of the sanitary conveniences.

One hundred and thirty nine inspections of outworkers’ premises were made, when it was found that 14 rooms required cleansing and in each case this was done on notice being given to the occupier. In three instances cases of infectious disease occurred at houses where outwork was done, the articles found on the premises being disinfected before being returned to the factories and the receiving of outwork stopped during the infectious period.

Thirty four lists relating to the 341 outworkers in the district and 22 lists relating to 68 outworkers receiving work outside the district were received twice during the year.

House Refuse and Water Supply

Two samples of water taken from surface wells were analysed and found to be unfit for domestic purposes. The water from these wells is not being used for drinking purposes at the present time.

From the report of the Surveyor and Waterworks Engineer (Mr. W. B. Madin) I have obtained the following particulars:

The average daily consumption of water was 13.66 gallons per head of the population; 11.53 gallons for domestic and municipal purposes and 2.13 for trade purposes.

The rainfall for the year 1915 was 21.44 inches. The heaviest day’s rainfall during the year was on May 13th, when 1,23 inches were registered in the 24 hours.

Average Rainfall for the past Five Years.

1911	17.10 inches
1912	27.06 inches
1913	19.01 inches
1914	20.11 inches
1915	21.44 inches

Average for five years ……….. 20.94 inches.

Petroleum Acts

Fourteen licences have been issued under the above Acts, eight for the storage of petroleum and six for the storage of carbide of calcium. The places for storage have been regularly inspected and no infringements of the regulations discovered.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I must again express my thanks for the strong support so readily accorded me during the past year by members of your Council, also to the Medical Officer of Health and other officials.