HH62/2/ROXBUR/17

Transcription

[Page] 16

of streams by farm and other refuse. Consequently springs
have to be found and wells sunk, and in a few instances
water has to be brought from a distance in pipes. Water is
very plentiful in the greywacke formation in the west and in
the porphyritic rocks in the east; but it is not quite so
abundant in the old red sandstone in the centre of the county,
especially where the strata lie at a considerable inclination.
North of the Tweed, also, water is scarce in some places.
There does not appear to be a deep well in the district, and
shallow wells and burns are the chief source of water. Many
of these shallow wells are in farm steadings or near to
dwellings, and analysis would show them to be polluted;
indeed, in some instances analysis is unnecessary, as sewage
can be seen passing into the well.
Until arrangements are made for the analysis of suspected
waters, it is impossible to deal satisfactorily with polluted
supplies, and little is to be gained by making inspections
which cannot lead to any further action.
Unfortunately, wells that have been condemned are not
closed, as it is alleged that the water is required for house-
hold purposes; and in villages the inhabitants frequently
prefer the water of a well which has been condemned more
than once to pure water brought by gravitation from a
distance.
Of the three classes of houses in the country - the large
mansion houses, the farm houses and smaller residences, and
the cottages - it is difficult to say which possess the most
defective drainage arrangements. Some of the largest houses
are drained by means of brick-built drains passing under the
whole length of the basement; while others have large un-
ventilated cesspools. It is not astonishing that the servants
who have to work on the ground floor suffer frequently from
anæmia, and that every few years there is a case of gastric
or typhoid fever.
In the farm houses faults in drainage are very common;
soil-pipes are placed inside the walls, and are unventilated,

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and directly connected to the drain. The drain itself is
brought under the foundations, and is unventilated, and very
frequently the apartment containing the water-closet is fixed
on as a suitable place to store the drinking water. Sinks,
also, are not faultless, and it is the rule rather that the
reverse to find sink waste-pipes directly connected to the
drain; the public seem to be satisfied that if a waste-pipe is
trapped everything is correct, whereas traps are only to be
relied on in conjunction with "disconnection."
Cottages are generally well built, and when they are pro-
vided with suitable drainage, and not over-crowded, they
are as salubrious dwellings as could be desired. One of the
commoner faults is that of building cottages on a damp,
undrained soil, and permitting them to be sheltered by trees,
so that they seldom get the sun. The general absence of
privies does not cause as much nuisance as sanitarians
accustomed to towns would imagine, but occasionally serious
nuisance results from this cause. The absence of ashpits
leads to the formation of middens unpleasantly close to
houses; and when ashpits exist they are nearly always un-
covered, and are consequently foul and wet, and the rain
water soaking though the refuge pollutes the soil around.
In describing what an ash pit ought to be I cannot do better
than quote from a report by Dr. M'Vail, Medical Officer of
Health for Dumbartonshire:- "The requisites of a proper
"ashpit are perfectly simple. It should be of small capacity,
"to necessitate frequent emptying; raised several inches
"above the ground level, to prevent entrance of surface
"water; concreted in the bottom and sides, to prevent filth
"impregnation of the walls or floor, or of the ground below;
"provided with a slated shed roof, to prevent access of rain,
"and to ward off the sun's rays, and so delay putrefaction of
"the contents; thoroughly ventilated on at least three sides
"and by the roof; and without any drain, so that the main
"drains of the locality may not be choked and polluted by
"its contents. No house water should be thrown into it, so