More Bathrooms Being Provided
But Where a Serious Mistake is Being Made

  Mr. F. S. F. Piper, Sanitary Inspector to the Rushden Urban District Council, in the course of his annual report, says:

  It is very gratifying to note there is still a steady flow of applications from owner-occupiers of houses to improve their dwellings by causing spare rooms to be converted into bathrooms.  The bathroom is invariably on the first or second floor, and contains a bath, lavatory basin, and water-closet.  Personally I do not advocate a water-closet being erected in the same room as a bath and lavatory basin, but advocate a separate cubicle for this convenience on sanitary grounds.  There is no law or by-law to otherwise direct; therefore one has to make the best of a serious mistake.

Inspection Of Dwelling-Houses

  Under the Public Health Acts and Housing Acts 105 houses have been inspected, practically the same number as in the previous year.  There is still a difficulty in obtaining the remedying of defects, and much correspondence has to be entered into before the desired effect is obtained.  This, I believe, is due to the high cost of material, etc., that still prevails.  During the year I presented to the Health and Sanitary Committee a report upon two more houses with a view to closing orders being made; and after full consideration of the report, and having regard to the housing shortage, it was resolved by the committee to ask the owner to remedy certain defects shown in the report to make the houses fit for habitation.  These defects were remedied and the houses were allowed to be occupied.

Food Premises

  There are six licensed and three registered slaughterhouses.  During the year 476 visits were made to these premises during the actual slaughtering and dressing of animals destined for food.  The Public Health (Meat) Regulations have been of great assistance in reducing fruitless visits to a minimum and have given more control over the meat supply, both from a pathological standpoint and from a point of cleaner handling and transit.  The slaughterhouses generally are kept in a cleanly state, save for one or two instances where it has been necessary to draw the occupiers’ attention to the need for periodical limewashing.  As for excessive accumulations on the premises, an instance has not been recorded.

  There are a number of butchers’ shops in the town with a regular meat supply obtained from outside the district, and to these premises 132 visits have been made for the purpose of inspecting the meat, etc.  In several instances quantities have been submitted for examination and found to be unfit for food and eventually destroyed.

  Over two tons of food was condemned or surrendered.

Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milk Stores

  On October 1^st the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, became law.  The new Order affects all persons engaged in the collection and distribution of milk very considerably and far beyond the old law now revoked.  Greater control is given over premises containing milch cows and those used for the storage, separating, or measuring of milk, and milk used in the making of cream, butter, or cheese, and also the daily conveying and delivering of milk to the consumer.  The Order is undoubtedly a great stimulus for obtaining a cleaner milk supply.

  During the early part of the year one or two applications to retail milk in this district were received from dairymen, etc., with cowsheds situated outside the district; and, although similar applications had hitherto been granted, it was then deemed necessary, in view of the lack of control over the source of supply, to take samples of the milk in course of delivery to the consumer and submit same for bacteriological examination.  This course was eventually extended to all milk sellers in the district, and, although several samples have been far from satisfactory, there is now a very great improvement; and I venture to suggest that during 1927 keen competition will prevail among milk sellers and producers to keep the bacterial count per cubic centimetre as low as possible, and so offer a cleaner milk to the consumer than in bygone years.

Factories, Workshops, and Bakehouses

  There are 93 factories, 62 workshops, and 17 bakehouses on the register, and 116 inspections have been made of these premises.  In three instances it was found that there was insufficient sanitary accommodation provided for the workers, and these defects were remedied as early as possible.

Infectious Disease

  Much attention has been given to cases of infectious disease, and, under the direction of the Medical Officer of Health, every effort has been exerted in preventing the spread of notifiable diseases in the district and the importation of cases into the town.  An adequate amount of disinfectants is allowed for each case notified, with instructions as to their use.

  During March information was received with reference to a case of anthrax occurring in a neighbouring district, the patient being employed at Rushden.  Every effort was exerted at the place of employment to prevent any further trouble, and it is pleasing to report that nothing further occurred.

  It was necessary to make 121 visits during the year, the greatest number of visits being in connection with chickenpox and scarlet fever.

Rats And Mice

  By direction of the Ministry of Agriculture, another Rat Week was held from November 1^st to 8^th, and the Council again decided to pay 3d. For every tail from a rat caught in the district of Rushden and delivered at the depot in Newton-road, 446 tails being brought in, at a cost of £5  11s.  6d.  Two rat-catchers were employed for three months, at a retaining fee of 10s. a week, for the purpose of destroying rats on property owned or occupied by the Council, the total number of rats caught being 236.