Medical Officer of Health reports, 1891 - Midlothian

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HH62/1/M-LOTH/1	Edinburgh TO THE HONOURABLE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISION. MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, I HAVE the honour of submitting for your consideration a Report on Mid-Lothian for the year ending 1891. Area and Population. Edinburghshire has altogether an area of 362 square miles, but this includes that of the City of Edinburgh and of various Burghs. The population, exclusive of the City and of the burghs of Leith, Portobello, Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Loanhead, Penicuik, Bonnyrigg, and Lasswade is, as nearly as it is possible at present to determine, 70,313. This is the population under the jurisdiction of the various District Committees of the Mid-Lothian County Council. The populous places besides Burghs in the County, meaning thereby villages of 50 to villages of 1700, number over one hundred. Four Districts - the Sub - urban, Calder, Lasswade, and Gala Water. The County is divided into Four Districts:- The SUBURBAN, including the parishes of Corstor- phone, Colinton, Cramond, Duddingston, Liberton, Newton, and parts of St. Cuthbert's and of South Leith; the CALDER DISTRICT, embracing the parishes of West Calder, Mid-Calder, Kirknewton, Currie, Ratho, and part of Kirkliston; the LASSWADE DIST- TRICT, composed of the parishes of Glencorse,
HH62/1/M-LOTH/3	[Page] 2 Lasswade, Penicuik, Carrington, Cockpen, New- battle, Dalkeith, and Inveresk; and the GALA WATER DISTRICT, which has now part of Humbie included, and comprising the parishes of Temple, Heriot, Stow, Cranstoun, Crichton, Borthwick, and Fala and Soutra. The population, excluding Burghs, is, Suburban 23,374, Calder District 20,072, Lasswade District 19,038, Gala Water District 7,829. Services of former Medical Officers of Health dis- pensed with, and Deputies appointed, who can act in emergencies under Chief Medical Officer. The services of all the former Medical Officers of Health acting for parts of the County outside the Burghs have been dispensed with. All are to be compensated. The District Committee of Gala Water have appointed Dr. Inch, Gorebridge, as my Deputy for the Gala District. The Suburban Committee have appointed Dr. Thatcher and Dr. Proudfoot, Edin- burgh, Deputies for the Suburban District. Dr. Craigie, Musselburgh, was appointed for Lasswade District. Each Deputy has a salary of £10 a year. They act only when asked by me to do so. Their services have not as yet been required. Services of former Sanitary Inspectors o fthree of the Districts dis- pensed with, and Assistants to Chief Inspector appointed who have no other employment. One District has re- appointed, pro tem., its former Inspectors as Assistants. The former Sanitary Inspectors of the Suburban District, and of the Districts of Gala Water and Lasswade, have been dismissed, and the County Sanitary Inspector has been allowed two Assistants, one for the SUBURBAN DISTRICT and one for the GALA WATER and LASSWADE DISTRICTS. The former Sanitary Inspectors for CALDER DISTRICT were, after being dismissed, reappointed as Assist- ants to the County Inspector. Their services can [Page] 3 be terminated at two months' notice. The system of having as Sanitary Inspectors local men with other employment is open to objection, and no doubt CALDER DISTRICT will soon do as the other Districts have done, and appoint an Assistant who shall devote his whole time to the work. The Water Supply throughout the County is fairly good in amount. Its quality in some of the villages and colliers' rows, and at many of the farms, is questionable - being liable to pollution. Water Supply and Special Water Districts. There is a number of places in which 'Special Water Districts' exist. In the SUBURBAN DISTRICT we have Corstorphine, Duddingston, Slateford, Longstone and Hailes, Juniper Green, Gilmerton, and Newton; in CALDER DISTRICT, East Calder, Mid-Calder, West Calder, Kirkliston, Currie, and Ratho. The last is newly formed. There was a proposed scheme for Balerno; but objections were raised by some of the inhabitants, and the Sheriff sustained the appeal until the Committee have had an opportunity of considering whether a more extended and comprehensive system for providing a sufficient supply can be carried out. This new scheme is now ready, and will shortly go before the Sheriff. Addiewell has its supply from Cobin- shaw Loch. The water ought to be filtered before use. The Oil Company supplying it has received notice of this. In GALA DISTRICT there are the Fala and the Stow 'Districts.' The latter, although arranged for in 1887, only practically became a formed District last September.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/5	[Page] 4 Public Health Act does not contain Pro- visions of a character to satisfactorily deal with want of proper Water Supply to single houses in Rural Districts. A few of the houses in the County are practi- cally without any water supply. The means of enforcing it are too weak, for Section 89, sub- section 2, of the Public Health Act is found in practice to be insufficient. In England, Local Authorities can enforce it, if the expense of intro- duction to the owner does not exceed a specified amount, or at any cost considered a reasonable one by the Local Government Board - the central authority. (Section 62, Public Health Act, 1875.) General Sanitary condition, Drainage, and Scavenging; Adequate Improvements retarded by the many Defects in the Public Health Act. The general Sanitary Condition and the Drain- age and Scavenging of many places can be greatly improved. But the defects in the Public Health Act are so many that nothing short of a new Act will suffice, if Local Authorities are to keep the County in the Sanitary Condition it should be in. Special Drainage Districts in the County. Some places in the County have 'Special Drainage Districts.' In the SUBURBAN DISTRICT there are Corstorphine, Liberton, Gilmerton, Juniper Green, and Duddington. The latter was formed during the year. The formation of Davidson's Mains as a 'Special District' is now contemplated. In CALDER DISTRICT, there is the West Calder 'Drainage District.' Its sewage goes directly to the burn, but arrangements for previous purifica- tion are now under consideration. In LASSWADE DISTRICT, there is the Roslin 'Special Drainage District,' and in GALA, the Gorebridge 'Special District.' Another Drainage District newly formed is that of Stow and Killochyett. This appears to have been a Drainage District twenty years ago, [Page] 5 but seems to have lapsed long ago, and it may be said to be now reformed. A Sub-Committee of Management have been appointed, but having heard that their proposal to carry the Sewage into the Gala unpurified would not be approved of by the District Committee, they asked and obtained from the District Committee a sum of £30 for putting existing drains into a better condition, until a satisfactory and complete drain- age system can be prepared. In most of the villages throughout the County the Drainage is either by rubble drains or open gutters. Great improvements in the Colinton, Currie, and St. Cuthbert's Parishes can follow the completion of the Water of Leith Sewage Scheme. These improvements will be taken up and considered then. Irrigation System beginning to obtain a footing. Irrigation, but in an imperfect manner, is being employed at Liberton and Gilmerton, in the SUBURBAN DISTRICT; and in North Pumpher- ston, Woodmuir, Addiewell, and Kirknewton, in the CALDER DISTRICT. The system can be easily more effectually carried out in each of these places. Scavenging - more Defects in Public Health Act; Power to form Scavenging} Districts needed. The Scavenging in the most populous places is done either by the Local Authorities or by the proprietors of works who own the houses. The Local Authorities have hitherto found it necessary to pay for the cleaning of some villages, and it is possible that in doing so they may be exceeding their legal powers. To cease doing so would certainly, in some cases - in the interest of the
HH62/1/M-LOTH/7	[Page 6] Public Health - not be advisable at present, and steps are being now taken to secure for Local Authorities powers to form Scavenging Districts, as they have already powers to form Water and Drainage Districts. Nuisances. Many nuisances have been abated during the year; others are in course of being remedied now. I have granted a number of Certificates of Nuisance. Some of these have been brought into requisition, others not. In a few cases delay has been con- sidered advisable until Bye-Laws are framed by the Committees regarding Dairies and Common Lodging-houses. A case of great importance, and of far-reaching consequences, was brought up by the SUBURBAN DISTRICT Committee against the Edinburgh Town Council. An old clay-pit near Millerhill Station has been used as a "toom" for City Refuse since July 1890, and thousands of tons have been deposited in it. Many complaints regarding it were made from time to time; but the then Medical Officer for the Parish, Dr. Lucas, certified that the refuse laid down contained 'little or no organic matter,' and that the accumulation was therefore not injurious to health. I examined the deposit, and found it mainly composed of organic matter. On my inquiring carefully into the health condition of the people in the immediate neighbourhood, I was perfectly satisfied that a number of illnesses - persistent nausea, headache, diarrhoea, etc. - were due wholly to this cause, and I consequently certified the accumulation as a [Page 7] nuisance. A deputation of the District Committee met with one from the City at Millerhill, and the City agreed to cease operations during the warmer months, and to carry out certain steps stipulated by the District Committee, to prevent the place being a nuisance after fresh deposits ceased. The town broke through their agreement, and the Committee very reluctantly were forced to go to Court. The case came before Sheriff Rutherfurd, who fixed a day for proof, and after hearing evidence he pronounced an interlocutor, finding that the com- plainers failed to prove a nuisance within the meaning of the Public Health Act; and dismissed the petition, finding neither party entitled to expenses. The Sheriff read a note to the inter- locutor, the contents of which were reported by reporters present, and given to the papers. I give this note as it appears in one of the leading dailies:- "After hearing the arguments of counsel, Sheriff Rutherfurd said that on considering the question whether the complainers had proved that injury to health had been caused by the heap, he had made up his mind on the subject, and was prepared to give judgement. Un- fortunately the evidence on this point, which had been adduced by the complainers, was inconclusive, and the testimony of several of the witnesses had served to weaken rather than support the case. The evidence of the witnesses in Newton House no doubt lent colour to the complaint, because the symptoms from which they suffered were such as might result from a vitiated atmosphere; but while he thought that was the strongest and most important evidence in the case, it required to be
HH62/1/M-LOTH/9	[Page] 8 looked at somewhat carefully. It was a remarkable fact also that the Doctor called in by Miss Finlay did not think the inmates required medical treatment, and accord- ingly did not prescribe for them." (The Doctor who was called in was Dr. Lucas, who had previously certified the heap not a nuisance, and he was not the medical attendant at Newton House, but was called by Miss Finlay to come and look at the household to see if he could still be conscientiously of the same opinion that the accumulation was innocuous. The Doctors who attended the inmates were Dr. Ballantyne, Dalkeith, and Dr. Milligan, Edinburgh, both of whom by certificate, and in the witness- box, stated that in their opinion the cause, and the only cause, for the illnesses was the noxious emanations from the heap.) "Although he (the Sheriff) was not prepared to hold that the deposit of refuse in the clay-hole had been proved to be de facto injurious to health, still he thought it was beyond doubt that a very offensive smell emanated from the hole at a certain time, and that it could be distinctly perceived at Newton House, and at other places equally distant, according to the state of the weather and the direction of the wind. There was, however, a difference between a nuisance which was injurious to health and a nuisance which was merely annoying. Altogether the case was a very narrow one, and under circumstances slightly different he might have been called upon to give judgement for the Complainers. At the same time, as prevention was better than cure, a Local Authority should not wait for the outbreak of an epidemic before taking action. Although the existence of a nuisance had not been exactly proved, nevertheless what was complained of was a source of danger to the health of the community, and he thought it was the [Page] 9 duty of the Respondents to use every means in their power to obviate the risk, and that they were well advised to adopt special precautions for that purpose." On perusal of the evidence of the witnesses - the unshaken evidence of the inmates of Newton House, and of one or two others who said they suffered from the symptoms mentioned - and then studying the above note, the questions may be asked: What is injury to health? and Is it pre- sumable that the Sheriff might have declared it a nuisance if the words in Section 16 (a) of the Act had been "calculated to be injurious to health," instead of being, as they are, "injurious to health"? A New Public Health Act urgently required. It will be evident at all events that Sub-Section (a) of Section 16 of the Public Health Act will require alteration, and expression in less ambiguous language, if we are to hope for favourable decisions in cases raised under it. But, as I have already said, nothing short of an Act somewhat on the model of that for the metropolis of London (which, however, is suited to the requirements of a city) can be satisfactory. Pig-styes - Public Health Act again defective; Power to make Bye-Laws advisable. One of the most common nuisances, and one difficult to deal with, is that caused by the Keeping of Pigs. Bye-Laws are much needed to aid us, but as they apparently cannot be made under Section 57 (1) of the Local Government Act, some means to acquire the necessary powers should be tried. The Dwelling-houses throughout the County vary as much in their sanitary condition as they
HH62/1/M-LOTH/11	[Page] 10 Dwelling- houses throughout County: To insure establishment of Healthy Houses, provisions to regulate occupation of newly erected Dwellings a desideratum; present Public Health Act gives no such powers. do in their construction, and a large number in all the Districts are in a more or less insanitary state. The "Housing of the Working Classes Act" is to be brought into operation in the case of a block of houses at Corstorphine. I have reported upon these houses to the SUBURBAN DISTRICT Committee, expressing my opinion that it is impossible to make them sanitary, and that they ought in fact to be pulled down and built anew. I would in this connection, remark that of the many necessary legislative enactments wanted, one is that which would give to Local Authorities powers to frame Bye-Laws for regulating the occupation of all newly erected buildings. By such means healthy dwellings would gradually be established. Special Investigations I have made one special and exhaustive examin- ation during my six months on duty, namely, that of an inquiry into the Pollutions of the River Almond. This was done at the instance of the Committees of the two DISTRICTS interested - Calder and Suburban, - who, in conjuction with the Local Authorities of West Lothian and Lanark, requested a report to be made. In September I issued the Report, which was as follows:- (The annexed Plan is reduced from the Original in the Report.) The Pollutions of the River Almond, and how they may be prevented. "At the request of the Counties of Edinburgh and Linlithgow, I have this summer examined the Sources of Pollution of the River Almond, with the view of suggesting means of remedy. [Page] 11 The river flows through three Counties. In my investigation in part of the County of Lanark I was accompanied by Colonel Menzies of Viewfield; Dr. McLintock, Medical Officer; and by Mr. Dobson, Sanitary Inspector. In West Lothian and Mid-Lothian I was assisted by a report by Mr. Frew, Sanitary Inspector for the County of Linlithgow, and by information furnished by the constabulary, through the kindness of Colonel Borthwick. In Mid-Lothian, Mr. Lindsay, Sanitary Inspector, visited along with me most of the places involved in the inquiry. I have, at the outset, to state that there may be a number of minor pollutions which have escaped my notice, and perhaps a few of some importance, but I have investigated all those I could hear of which materially contributed to the impurities in the river. I may here add that I experienced a little difficulty at some works, from having to search out sources of pollution which I believe existed, but were denied by those in charge. It is thus possible that the total pollutions from several works are understated. The River Almond has its origin in the Parish of Shotts, Mid Ward of Lanarkshire. Formed by the junction of two small streams, at a point about a quarter of a mile east of Batten, the river has but a very short course in that county - not more than two miles, or three miles if Hassockrig Burn is included. Its length through Linlithgowshire and Mid-Lothian down to the sea, following the windings of the stream, is, roughly, twenty-eight miles. Eight of these lie wholly within Linlithgowshire, and twenty form the boundary between the two counties. The total length of the river from the junction of its two sources is thus about thirty miles. From the junction of its two sources to its exit point at the sea,
HH62/1/M-LOTH/13	[Page] 12 as the crow flies, is twenty-three miles. The general direction of the flow of the river is north-easterly. The water along its whole course has an ochry colour. Fish cannot live in it. Horses, cattle, and sheep drink sparingly of it, if at all, and for industrial purposes it is almost useless on account of its destructive effect upon boilers. The How Burn, a tributary, rises in Lanarkshire, but does not flow into the Almond until it reaches Linlithgowshire. The polluting tributaries in Lanarkshire are Has- sockrig, one of its sources, and a burn from Benhar: those in Linlithgowshire are, on the north, How Burn, Loch Shotts Burn, Caw Burn, Beuch Burn, Broxburn, and Ecclesmachan or Niddry Burn; and on the south, the Breich Water, which receives from the north, Meadowfoot Burn, Fauldhouse Burn, and Crofthead Burn: while those in Edinburghshire are the Breich Water receiving Muldron Burn, the Longhill or West Calder Burn, Harwood Burn, Linnhouse Water, East Calder Burn, and Gogar Burn. Any other pollutions enter the Almond directly. The actual situation of the source of each pollution is indicated in the accompanying Plan (drawn 1 inch to the mile) by discs, marked in arithmetical pro- gression from west to east, as the river is followed downwards. On referring to the numbers in this Report while perusing the Plan, the nature of at least the principal pollutions is seen. These numbers, with the main deleterious contribu- tions, are as follows:- No. 1. Wester Hassockrig Colliery - Dross washing. - Two small tanks are used with the object of favouring precipitation, but these are practically useless. [Page] 13 No. 2. Messrs. R. Addie & Sons' No. 2. Ironstone Pit. - Irony water from Pit and 'blaes' heaps. No. 3. Benhar Company's Pit - situated near to Addie's No. 3 Pit. - Irony water pumped from this pit is allowed to settle in a tank before being discharged. This arrange- ment has, however, not materially lessened the pollution of the river. No. 4. Messrs. R. Addie & Sons' Ironstone Pit, No. 3. - From this pit, now simply used as a pumping station, 528,000 gallons of irony water are thrown out daily (the figures have been furnished me by the owners). There is, besides, soakage of irony water from the old bings. No. 5. Benhar 'Rows" sewage. No. 6. Eastfield 'blaes' soakage. - This goes to the How Burn. No. 7. Harthill No. 1 Pit - 'Blaes' soakage. No. 8. Harthill sewage, flowing to How Burn. No. 9. Westrig Colliery - Dross washing. - Here, as at Wester Hassockrig, tanks prove quite inadequate, and the wash passes into the How Burn. No. 10. Dixon's No. 13 Ironstone Pit. - No water is at present being pumped to the surface. There is a small soakage from bings. No. 11. Dixon's 'blaes' heaps. - These contribute irony water flowing into Fauldhouse Burn. No. 12. Southrig Colliery - Dross washing. - Here the wash is allowed to flow out over a small bit of moor before discharging into How Burn. This has practically no effect in reducing the pollution.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/15	[Page] 14 No. 13. West Lothian Oil Company's Works. - The arrangements here for purifying the effluent are of the most primitive kind, and quite inadequate. Water from the separators flows into Fauldhouse Burn. No. 14. Muldron Iron Mines (disused). - Irony water is discharged in considerable amount from the old workings. No. 15. Crofthead Ironstone Pits, Nos. 1 and 5. - These throw out 360,000 gallons of irony water in twenty-four hours. (The figures are furnished me by Mr. Thornton, the owner.) The water, when pumped, has a muddy, yellow look, and unlike that from Addie's No. 3 Pit, which comes from the mine perfectly clear in colour. It flows into Crofthead Burn. There is also here some bing soakage. No. 16. Fauldhouse sewage. No. 17. Crofthead sewage. No. 18. Whitburn sewage. No. 19. Blackburn sewage. No. 20. Addiewell 'Rows' sewage. No. 21. Addiewell Works, and some outside surface drainage and bing soakage. - Effluent from separators is restricted as to degree of impurity. No. 22. Breich Oil Works. - Tarry matters and bing soakage find their way to the river. No. 23. The Dean Oil Works (Crude). - Tarry matters, etc., are conveyed to the river by the Loch Shotts Burn. No. 24. West Calder sewage. [Page] 15 No. 25. Gavieside sewage. No. 26. Hermand Oil Works. - Surplus effluent not used in cooling shale escapes to Harwood Burn. There is likewise bing soakage. No. 27. Hermand 'Rows' sewage. No. 28. Livingstone Village sewage. No. 29. Bell's Quarry sewage. No. 30. Inveralmond Cottages sewage. - Very small. No. 31. Uphall Village sewage. No. 32. Uphall Works 'Rows' sewage - falling into Beuch Burn. No. 33. Uphall Works. - Surface drainage and bing soakage escapes into Beuch Burn. No. 34. Pumpherston North 'Rows' sewage. - This, by mistake, has been laid down in the Plan. Irrigation of this sewage is satisfactorily effected. No. 35. Pumpherston South 'Rows' sewage. - This goes directly to the Almond. No. 36. The Holmes Oil Works. - Tarry matters and soakage from bings flow into Beuch Burn. No. 37. Bonemill Drainage. No. 38. Pumpherston Oil Works and Bings. - Pollutions flow in two directions: (a) directly to the Almond; (b) into Caw Burn. The latter burn, some distance from the works, to all appearance is pure, but on analysis it yields about 450 grains of solids per gallon. Before receiving pollution, the amount of solids is under 30 grains. There is here, as in the other works, bing soakage.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/16	[Page] 16 No 39. Midcalder sewage. - Amount considerable. No. 40. Oakbank Oil Works and Bings. - Over 200,000 gallons of water (figures sup- plied me by the Company), strongly tainted with all the usual pollutions of such works, are filtered through an old bing, and pass into the Linnhouse Burn daily. No. 41. Oakbank 'Rows' sewage. No. 42. Broxburn Town Sewage. - This is an important pollution. No. 43. Hopetoun or Niddry Oil Works and Bings. - Dirty water pumped on to bings. Surface drainage and bings soakage partly flow into a disused pit, and partly go into Ecclesmachan Burn. No. 44. Broxburn Oil Works and Bings. - Outside surface drainage and bing soakage are here apparently the only noxious in- gredients escaping. No. 45. East Calder sewage. No. 46. Hopetoun 'Rows' or Niddry sewage. No. 47. Camps Limestone Quarries. - From these quarries a great quantity of water is pumped. It contains a large amount of mineral matter in suspension when work- ing operations are being carried on, but comes out perfectly clear on Sundays, when no men are at work below. No. 48. Kirkliston Village sewage. From the above, it will be noticed that Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 are situated in Lanarkshire; Nos. 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 28, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 42, 43, 44, 46, and 48 in West Lothian; [Map inserted]
HH62/1/M-LOTH/17	[Page] 16 [Page] 17 and Nos. 14, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 34, 35, 38, 39, 40, 41, 45, and 47 in Mid-Lothian. Further, it will be seen that all the pollutions come under one of five classes, namely:- 1. Sewage. 2. The washing of coal dross. 3. Limestone mining. 4. The manufacture of paraffin oil. 5. Ironstone mining. These I shall now discuss in their order. SEWAGE POLLUTION. From the nature of the composition of sewage, it rapidly oxidises on entering a stream, the water of which, on running some distance, is rendered com- paratively pure, excepting for potable purposes, when there is always danger from the spores of disease germs. When, however, large quantities enter from villages, some form of sewage irrigation is called for. This can be effected in most cases of sewage drainage at present flowing into the river or its tributaries. POLLUTION FROM THE WASHING OF COAL DROSS. The minute division of suspended particles, and their lightness, render cleansing of 'gum' wash only possible by one means. A practical demonstration of how this may be effected can be seen at Woodend Colliery, near Armadale, where there is a very large wash pumped into tanks dug in the refuse bings, and regularly scraped out to prevent clogging. (I may mention that the bings are largely made up of coke refuse.) By this simple means the filtrate oozes out at the bottom of the bings perfectly clear. Filtration then, after some fashion, is the remedy for this pollution.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/19	[Page] 18 POLLUTION FROM LIMESTONE MINING. This source of pollution may be very easily pre- vented by the construction of a settling pond. The suspended matter is heavy, and settles rapidly. POLLUTION FROM PARAFFIN OIL WORKS. The solid matters at such works which are liable to pollute streams are mainly - (1) Tarry matters, the cleansings of plant - pipes, etc. (2) Vitriol tar, the cleansings of the oils treated with sulphuric acid. (3) Soda tar, the cleansings of the oils treated with caustic soda. The vitriol tar is washed with hot water to secure the vitriol for further use, and the tar along with the soda tar is in most works burned, and in some works, as that of Broxburn, utilised as fuel by being blown into the furnaces along with steam. This satisfac- torily disposes of the bulk of such matter, although small quantities in some works often escape and find their way into streams. The water at a Paraffin Oil Work, in which crude oil, sulphate of ammonia, naphtha, burning and lubri- cating oils, paraffin and paraffin candles are manufac- tured, may be stated to be as follows:- (1) Clean water used in the boilers for gener- ating steam. (2) Water resulting from condensation of steam employed: (a) In the various distillations of the oils, and afterwards separated by Separators; and (b) In the cleansing of naphtha from melted [Page] 19 paraffin in the process of refining the latter. This water is a comparatively small quantity. (3) Water manufactured in the process of de- structive distillation of the shale, amount- ing to about 30 to 40 gallons per ton of shale used - which water, plus water (other 30 to 40 gallons per ton of shale) resulting from condensation of the steam blown into the shale in the retorts and escaping decomposition, is separated from the crude oil by Separators, which allow the oil to float and pass off above, and the water to be drawn off from below. This water is afterwards exhausted of its ammonia by heat, and the ammonia is recovered by sulphuric acid. (4) Water used for condensing the oil vapours, and which may either be a pure water such as (1), or dirty water of the works cooled in cooling ponds for the purpose. (5) Water used for cooling the paraffin in the candle moulds, in candle making. (6) Water employed in dissolving the caustic soda used in refining, and afterwards separated from the oil. (7) Water used for washing out the vitriol from the vitriol tar, and afterwards separated from the vitriol. (8) Surface drainage water - (a) From rain, leakages in plant, spilling of fluids, etc. (b) From refuse bings. In a work where the water supply is plentiful, perhaps the simplest and cheapest method of dis-
HH62/1/M-LOTH/21	[Page] 20 posing of the water which has been used in the manufacturing processes, and of that derived from the shale, both of which are highly impregnated with various chemical products and tarry matters, is to let it run into the nearest stream - of course polluting it. This is practically how some of the works solve the question of their liquid, if not solid refuse disposal. At one work I visited, the whole of the water - excepting a quantity pumped on to the spent shale bing for cooling - is filtered through an old refuse bing, and falls into an adjoining burn. The Manager informed me that there they have a plentiful water supply, and that about 300,000 gallons of water pass into the works daily. About three-fourths of this quantity pass out, carrying with it the various impurities. In some works a portion of the dirty water is passed to a pond, through which the truck loads of hot spent shale are drawn to be cooled; or, as at Champfleurie, near Linlithgow (not in the Almond district), an automatic arrangement may be put in operation, whereby a quantity of dirty water falls upon each hot shale truck on its passage to the bing. In both of these ways the water is got rid of by rapid evaporation. The former method is to be seen at Addiewell, although here water from the separators (restricted, however, as to degree of impurity) goes out from the work, and ultimately reaches the Almond. In works of recent construction the whole of the dirty water is used up, and almost nothing escapes into the streams, except occasional surface drainage. As examples of such works, we have Champfleurie and Broxburn. In these works the tarry matters are [Page] 21 consumed as fuel, and the dirty water is partly evaporated in slaking hot shale, and partly collected to cooling ponds to be cooled down, and used over and over again for the condensers. In none of the works have I seen any method of catching bing drainage and outside surface drainage, and satisfac- torily disposing of them. But it is to be noted that works' surface drainage, in works collecting their ordinary surface drainage to a dirty water tank, mainly goes into streams in any quantity when they are in flood, and the impurities are at once largely diluted. This cannot be said of bing soakage, which might, by the way, be drained to catch pits, and pumped to the dirty water tank. But bing soakage need not pollute to any great extent, if dirty water be not pumped on to the bings, as at some works. The degree of pollution of the water of any stream by a paraffin oil work varies according to the size of the stream, but mainly, of course, to the method in use in disposing of the dirty water and tarry refuse. At one small crude work which I examined, the dirty water pond contents were supposed to be pumped on to the refuse bing, but at the time of my visit the pumping gear was all out of order, and apparently had not been used for some time, and evidence was clear to me that the contents were let off by a pipe leading into a ditch, which showed unequivocal signs of such method having been adopted. Now, can this pollution of the Almond and its tributaries by paraffin oil works be completely pre- vented, or can it, at all events, be minimised at com- paratively little cost to such an extent as to allow of the streams to remain so pure that no offensive smell or taste is perceptible in their waters? I think both
HH62/1/M-LOTH/23	[Page] 22 questions can be answered in the affirmative, for we at least have examples pointing so far to both being possible. If it were not for the bing drainage and the surface drainage (entering, as a rule, when streams are in flood, and therefore less harmful), such a work as Champfleurie, near Linlithgow (which, by the way, is out of the district of the present inquiry), shows us there is no need to pass dirty water from a work. Again, we have in Addiewell an example of what can be done by care, watchfulness, and a sufficient number of good separators, in keeping a large effluent from appreciably polluting the streams into which it flows. The effluent from Addiewell Works, by an order of the Court of Session made some fourteen years ago, must be of a certain standard of purity. This standard, which has been kindly forwarded me by Mr. Fyfe, managing director, is as follows:- 'The discharge into the Breich Water and the Longhill Burn shall, on analysis and calculation, to the imperial gallon not exceed the following proportions:- [Table inserted] [Page] 23 I drank the water of Longhill Burn, into which Addiewell effluent flows, and failed to find any smell with it, or unpalatable taste. What is done in this respect at Addiewell can undoubtedly be done at other works. I am therefore of opinion that, if the 'best practi- cable and reasonably available means' be employed to prevent pollution from paraffin oil works, they shall prove successful. POLLUTION FROM IRONSTONE MINING. There are two classes of water from ironstone workings:- (1) Water pumped from the mine, which comes up either almost perfectly clear, as at Addie's No. 3 Pit in Lanarkshire, or with a muddy like appearance, as at Crofthead Pit, where it has already, before pumping, been subjected to conditions favouring precipitation of some of its iron which appears in suspension. (2) Refuse bing soakage, which is not very large in quantity, but extremely rich in iron salts, and very acid in reaction. The first class (1), or pumped water, is highly charged with ferrous salts. On exposure to air and motion, iron is precipitated partly as a carbonate and partly as a hydrated oxide, the water assumes an ochry hue, and the irony deposit coats the stones and bottom of the river all along its course. The water of the other class (2), or bing soakage, is clear, and of a rich mahogany tint, and holds its iron almost wholly in solution, and mainly as ferric salts. I made a number of experiments with these waters to find some easy method of purifying them.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/25	[Page] 24 The pumped water, clear on coming out of the pit, became opaque in an hour. On standing 48 hours, a quantity of its iron was deposited, but it still re- mained somewhat opaque, and distinctly irony. On standing a week, the water became perfectly clear, but iron in solution was in considerable quantity. On standing two weeks, there still remained a large amount of iron in solution. The bing water underwent no change on standing, as was to be expected. By adding 2 drachms of freshly slaked lime to 1 gallon of the pumped water which had stood for 48 hours, and shaking, a complete precipitation was effected in less than 10 minutes, leaving a clear water, free of even the faintest trace of iron. A larger quantity than 2 drachms was required 24 hours earlier. The addition of 10 drachms to 1 gallon of the bing soakage, and shaking, effected as complete purification and decolourisation in the same time as 2 drachms did with the other. A point of great practical importance is this, that unless lime is added in sufficient quantity to cause marked alkinity, the precipitate is slow in falling; but if it be added in sufficient quantity, the water in a few minutes is rendered absolutely free of iron. Another point of equal importance is the condition in which the lime is when added. If freshly burned limestone can be used, even in a comparatively fine state of division, a quantity equal to three times the weight of the freshly slaked lime is required to give as satis- factory results in the same space of time. The reason of this is that the presence of too much water pre- vents the lime assuming that peculiar condition known as slaked lime, in which the stone falls to an [Page] 25 almost impalpable powder, exposing an enormous surface to act quickly in producing alkinity. Care, therefore, in properly slaking is a desideratum. Agitating at the moment when added is, of course, desirable. In working with large quantities of water, perhaps a good plan might be to add milk of lime, which is simply properly slaked lime well stirred with water; or to have recourse to some method of churning the slaked lime with the irony water at the moment of its addition. I have specially laid stress on the words freshly slaked, for slaked lime rapidly becomes carbonated from exposure to the air. In suggesting a way of preventing pollution of the Almond from ironstone water, I would then point out that for the pumped water, which, from its quantity, is the only difficult one to cope with, a well-arranged system of settling tanks, with means of thoroughly mixing freshly and properly prepared slaked lime with the water would effectively secure the desired end. Cleansing of such tanks would require careful attention, and the removal of the enormous quantity of sludge, much labour. The bing water can be collected by well planned drains, and similarly treated. Its very small quantity offers no difficulty. I am thus of opinion that by using the means above indicated this pollution of the Almond by irony water, and which ranks about first of all its pollutions, can undoubtedly be wholly prevented, and dealt with in a thoroughly satisfactory manner. There still remains the question:- Is this means of prevention in the meaning of the 'Rivers Pollution Act' a means that can be considered a practicable and reasonably available one? I do not know how ironstone mining pays in this district, but I fear that,
HH62/1/M-LOTH/27	[Page] 26 were efficient measures to be employed in purifying the pumped water from these ironstone wokings, all profits would at once disappear. If this be so, the process proposed cannot be said to be a practicable one as far as the owners of these pits are concerned. But considering the works are so very few - some three pits altogether now being carried on - is it not worth the while of the riparian proprietors below these pumpings to aid the ironstone masters in getting rid of a pollution which poisons the stream from its fountain-head to its exit at the sea, and spoils the amenity of the whole district through which it flows?" The Joint-Committee of the Counties interested are now taking opinion of Counsel to ascertain fully their powers before proceeding further with the matter. Special Complaints. A complaint of an important nature has been made by the villagers of Loanstone. The Cor- porations of Edinburgh and Leith have sent out a very large quantity of spent gas lime to a park near Loanstone. The heap is placed about 150 yards distant from the village well, which supplies the inhabitants with water, and has fouled it. In consequence of the recent snowstorm, a deputation from the City was unable to meet a deputation from the County at the place, to dis- cuss what is to be done. It is quite evident the villagers have just cause of cpmplaint. They have, meantime, to use water from a pump well sunk by a dairyman at his byre door, and very iable to be polluted. Even this supply will cease [Page] 27 in summer, and a permanent one will therefore have to be sought for. The inhabitants would seem to have a fair claim on the Corporations for such good supply, as it is practically impos- sible to purify the well. The case is to receive immediate attention. There have been other complaints as to the deposit of Town Refuse, but no legal proceedings have yet been taken regarding them. Dairies: Necessity of Bye-Laws being made stringent. I have visited a number of the Dairies along with Mr. Lindsay, the Inspector, and from my examination of these, I saw what I believe to be a fair sample of them all. I consider it absolutely necessary to frame Bye-Laws of a stringent order. Mr. Lindsay and I have carefully thought out the matter, and submitted Draft Bye-Laws to one of the Local Authorities. A large and judicious body like our District Committees may safely be entrusted with the administration of the most stringent Bye-Laws, for they can put them, or not put them, in force in any special instance, at their pleasure; and seeing how very difficult it is to put an end to most unsuitable premises, it is well that the necessary machinery should be as comprehensive as will enable any obnoxious place to be dealt with without the slightest difficulty. We know how readily infected milk spreads disease, and we know too, from statistical infor- mation, that tuberculous cows (the milk from which can produce tuberculosis in man) are to be found in greater numbers in badly-ventilated
HH62/1/M-LOTH/29	[Page] 28 and over-crowded byres than in those that are well ventilated and roomy, - a fact which might be expected, for insufficiency of cubic space and bad ventilation are the surest means of fostering phthisis in the human subject. I am in hopes, therefore, that the Committees may adopt these Bye-Laws as they stand, or, at least, in a form not less stringent, and that they may meet with your approval. Bake-houses not satis- factory; present Statutory Provisions insufficient; Powers to frame Bye-Laws desirable. I have inspected all the Bake-houses in the County. They may be divided into three classes: - (1) The good, which include a few of the Co-operative Society's premises, and one or two private bake-houses; (2) The passable, which are in much greater number; and (3) The decidely bad, of which there are a few. One of the main objections to the majority of the private bake- houses is their connection with the dwelling-house, for if such a disease as scarlet fever were to occur in the latter, great risk of spreading infection would follow. Of course, it may be said that, with the notification of the Infectious Diseases Act in force, such a risk would be obviated. This is not so, for many cases of scarlet fever are so mild that medical advice is not taken, and then the case runs a very small chance indeed of being notified. It is very desirable that Local Authorities should secure powers to frame Bye-Laws for Bake-houses, for the statutory provisions are altogether too weak. I have not as yet instituted proceedings against any of them. [Page] 29 Common Lodging- houses. There are a few Common Lodging-houses in the County. These are not what they should be, but as they are already licensed, they cannot easily be interfered with. There are others in Lasswade District unlicensed, and steps against them shall shortly be taken. Diseased Meat. Two seizures of diseased meat have been made during the year. In both cases convictions were obtained, and penalties imposed. Hospital Ac- commodation. The following are the Hospitals which the Local Authorities have interest in:- (1) Newton Loan, originally intended for Stow, Heriot, Crichton, Cranstoun, Borthwick, and Temple Parishes of GALA DISTRICT; and for Carrington, New- battle, and Cockpen Parishes of LASS- WADE DISTRICT. Bonnyrigg Burgh has likewise a share. (2) Drumshoreland, originally intended for Corstorphine in the SUBURBAN DISTRICT; for Currie, Kirkliston, Ratho, Mid-Calder, Kirknewton, and West Calder in the CALDER DISTRICT; and for the Parish of Livingston in West Lothian. (3) Penicuik, originally intended for the Burgh of Penicuik, and the landward part of the Parish. (4) Portobello, one-eighth share of which was held by the late Local Authority of the Parish of Duddingston, in the SUBURBAN DISTRICT.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/31	[Page] 30 (5) Dalkeith, a presentation Hospital, which allows patients (when paid for) being sent from the landward part of the Parish of Dalkeith in the LASSWADE DISTRICT. Two Hospitals for the County are now being arranged for, one in the neighbourhood of Loan- head, and another near Slateford. The former is to be a joint Hospital, between the SUBURBAN and LASSWADE DISTRICTS and the Burghs of Lasswade and Loanhead, and the latter a Suburban Hospital only. It is intended that they shall meet the requirements of the Parishes at present unprovided for, and the cost of their erection is to be borne in this way:- The DISTRICTS pay in proportion to the valuation of the Parishes in the respective DISTRICTS which the Hospital is intended to accommodate, and the Burghs pay in proportion to their valuation. The cost of the Slateford Hospital of course falls wholly upon the SUBURBAN DISTRICT. Although a DISTRICT is entitled to send patients from any part of it to a Hospital it has a share in (whether such Hospital is in the District or not), still when adequate Hospital provision is made for all Districts, the different Hospitals shall most likely be fed by the Parishes they were originally intended for. Adoption of Notification of Infectious Diseases Act. The Notification of Infectious Diseases Act came into force in the SUBURBAN DISTRICT last February, and in the GALA DISTRICT last May. It comes into operation in CALDER DISTRICT on [Page] 31 the 1st of February next, and its adoption is to be considered immediately by the LASSWADE DISTRICT Committee. It is now most desirable that all the Burghs should come under its provisions. Although there is at present lack of Hospital accommodation, Notification does this good, that it affords information as to where infection is, and allows of precautionary measures against wide dissemination of disease to be taken - such as prevention of children attending schools from houses in which diseases like Scarlatina and Diphtheria exist. In the Notification Districts of this County the Compulsory Officers of the Parish School Boards are at once informed where infection is, and they are instructed to warn teachers and parents of the children to use all preventive measures possible. The Cases of Infectious Disease notified in two Districts. The cases of Infectious Diseases included in the Notification Act, and reported as occurring in the SUBURBAN and GALA DISTRICTS from the date of my appointment on 15th May to the end of the year, have been as follows:- SUBURBAN DISTRICT. - Scarlet Fever, 85; Ery- sipelas, 8; Enteric Fever, 12; Diphtheria, 2; and Puerperal Fever, 1. The Scarlet Fever was almost wholly confined to the Liberton Parish. The cases of Diphtheria occurred in Gorgie and Gilmerton, and all the cases of Enteric were in Liberton Parish excepting 1 in St. Cuthbert's and 1 in Colinton.
HH62/1/M-LOTH/33	[Page] 32 GALA DISTRICT. - Scarlet Fever, 76; Ery- sipelas, 6; Enteric Fever, 3; and Diphtheria, 4. Here the Scarlet Fever occurred in Gorebridge and neighbourhood; the Diphtheria in Cranstoun and Stow, 1 being in the former and 3 in the latter. Two cases of Erysipelas occurred in Borth- wick, 1 in Crichton and 3 in Cranstoun. The 3 Typhoid cases were seen in the three Parishes of Fala, Borthwick, and Cranstoun. Births and Deaths for the Year unascertained. I duly received the tabular form for Births and Deaths sent by you to the District Clerks, but regret that I am unable to fill them up owing to one at least of the Registrars in the various Districts declining to give the necessary informa- tion at the fees offered by the District Committees. At present Registrars are not obliged to furnish these particulars, but I hope by another year returns by them to the Medical Officer of Health may be included in their duties. I have the honour to be, MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN, Your obedient Servant, W. J. BROCK, D.Sc., Medical Officer of Health for Mid-Lothian, West Lothian, and Peebleshire. COUNTY ROOMS, EDINBURGH, January 1892.