HH62/1/AYR/31

Transcription

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of Dreghorn were analysed. Below we give four specimens of the
results of the analyses:-

GRAINS PER GALLON

[Table inserted]

Remarks by the Analyist, Dr Clark, Glasgow.
No. 1 (Findlay's Well). This water contains sewage products equal to the
infiltration of about 40 per cent. of town sewage, and in my opinion
the use of this water for domestic purposes is attended with danger.
No. 2 (Adair's Well). The above results indicate that this water contains
sewage products equivalent to the infiltration of about 35 per cent. of
town sewage, and as the sewage matter is not completely oxidised,
I am of opinion that the use of this water is attended with very great
danger.
No. 3 (Donaldson Row Well). The results of my analysis indicate that this
water contains sewage products equal to the infiltration fo nearly 30
per cent. of town sewage, and although the sewage matter seems to
be well oxidised, the regular use of a water of this kind is, in my
opinion, attended with danger.
No. 4 (Gray's Well). This water contains sewage products equal to the
infiltration of about 20 per cent. of town sewage, and the proportion
of albuminoid ammonia indicates that the sewage matter is not
completely oxidised. In my opinion the use of this water for domestic
purposes is attended with danger.

The water supply in several places in the parish of Kilwinning
was suspected owing to outbreaks of enteric fever which have occurred
there, and an analysis of the well waters justified our suspicions In
investigating the causes of disease notified under the Notification
Act, several cases throughout the district were discovered in which the
water supply of the wells was frequently liable to pollution. In every
such case the use of a pure supply was enjoined.
It may be stated that the District Committee seem alive to the
urgent need of a new supply of water for Dreghorn, &c., while the
general public are becoming more and more cognisant of the prime
necessity of an abundant supply of pure water. Still, the danger of
village wells is not yet so patent to a number of villagers as it
should be.
Drainage, &c. - While an adequate supply of good water has
been brought by gravitation into nearly all the populous places in the
district, no provision in most cases has been made for carrying away
the water after it has fulfilled its functions. There is only one special
drainage district in the Northern District - the one lately formed at
Fairly. While Stevenston and Dreghorn have been recently drained

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by the former Local Authorities, and may be considered upon the
whole fairly satisfactory, nearly all the other populous places in the
district are defective in their drainage and sewerage. In regard to
Stevenston, it may be noted that the 9-inch main sewers at Townhead
and Schoolwell Streets are not sufficiently deep to drain several of the
properties in these streets, while in Dreghorn it is a matter of regret
that no provision was made for treating the sewage in any way before
discharging it directly into the Annick Water.
While the more important villages should be formed into special
drainage districts, the cost in a number of others, where the assess-
ment would be too heavy, will render this inexpedient. In the latter
case the Local Authority should do something for their improvement.
Even where special drainage districts are very much required, the
question as to the difficulty and expense of treating the sewage so as
to render it innocuous before discharging it into streams must not be
overlooked by the Local Authority. It is not likely that new exten-
tensive schemes of sewerage will in future be permitted which will
convert our streams into open sewers, as has been too much the
fashion in the past.
Another matter that may be noticed in connection with any
new drainage schemes is the condition of the footpaths, or so-called
pavements, in a number of villages. I am not clear how far the
powers of the Local Authorities extend in this respect in non-burghal
towns, but the sanitary importance of thorough surface-cleansing is
obvious, and no town or village can be considered properly drained
where the dilapidated condition of the footpaths make them recep-
tacles for rain, mud, and dirt.
Dwellings. - The condition of houses within the district has not
been systematically examined by me; but in visiting houses where
cases of infectious disease occurred, the sanitary state of the premises
was always noted. Although there are frequently found various in-
sanitary conditions, such as dampness, defective ventilation, &c., the
dwellings in this district, as far as I have been able to form an
estimate of them, may be considered fair. My attention was directed
to some old thatched houses in Stevenston, which I intend to inspect
in terms of the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
Other matters have prevented me from devoting special attention
to the condition of schools, the sanitation of which is so important in
connection with the public health. The ventilation in the few schools
in the district of which I have personal knowledge is, as is too general,
very defective. In connection with ventilation, the heating, &c., of
schools require consideration. I may note that I found the drainage
of the Public School at Skelmorlie in a very bad state; but all the
drainage and other conveniences have since been thoroughly over-
hauled.
Common Lodging Houses, Slaughter-Houses, Dairies, &c. - The
District Committee have under consideration Bye-laws for the regu-
lation of these places. I consider that at present a good many of
the common lodging houses, &c., do not come up to a fair sanitary
standard, but once our bye-laws are passed, we hope that consider-
able improvements will be effected.