145

With regard to the importance of
this duty, it may be well to mention
according to the latest discoveries of sanitary science,
water is perhaps the most powerful agent in the propagation
of cholera virus; and it has been stated on high authority that the
excretions of a person infected
with the disease are capable of
poisoning a large body of water,
even after filtration through the
earth.

VI. Warn all persons as to the peculiar
danger incurred in time of epidemic from
impure air and defective ventilation.

When a number of persons are in
the habit of sleeping in a defect-
ively ventilated apartment, and
this is insufficiently large to con-
tain at least 800 cubic feet of
air for each person, they should
be warned (unless the neighbour-
hood is especially malarious)
that they are liable to suffer far
more injury from closed than
from open windows, and espe-
cially in time of epidemic.

VII. Bear in mind throughout your in-
spection that though foul smells are always an
indication of danger, danger may neverthe-
less exist without them, especially in the
case of stagnant water that has not been
recently disturbed.

General Instruction.

As the necessary cleansing is likely to be
disagreeable to many, it is especially desir-
able in endeavouring to obtain it to use per-
suasion rather than compulsion. While the
measures required should be insisted upon
with firmness, no opportunity should be lost
of explaining to the ignorant that they are
necessary for health and safety. Allusion
to the mortality in the last epidemic may
probably be useful to promote a ready
obedience. Resort to the Magistrate’s
Court may possibly be in no case necessary;
but if examples are to be made, offenders
of the highest position should be in the first
place selected, as being those whose short-
comings would be the least excusable. A
tendency to allow immunity to one class,
while another, and that the least culpable,
is punished, while always highly unjust, would,
if indulged in the present instance, be addi-
tionally objectionable, as likely to weaken, if
not prevent, general co-operation for the
attainment of the object desired.

G. W. Des Vœux,
Administrator of the Government.

Mr. Simon to the Secretary of State, Colonial
Office.

Local Government Board,
(Medical Department.)
Whitehall, S.W., 16th January, 1872.

SIR,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 13th ultimo, enclosing a
copy of a Despatch from the Governor of
St. Lucia, covering a copy of a communica-
tion received from the Administrator of that
Island, together with a copy of instructions
issued by him to Inspectors of Nuisances;
and in compliance with the request contained
in the latter paragraph of the letter I would
observe—

1. That the instructions appear to relate
   only to cases where a nuisance actually
   exists, and not to cases where means of pre-
   vention against nuisance (such as drains to
   carry off slop water, proper arrangements
   for the disposal of excrement) are requisite.
   It would seem desirable that the inspection
   should include both sorts of cases.

[Although such a principle is only but
little admitted in the Sanitary Law of Eng-
land, it would seem very desirable that,
without notice from an Inspector, it should
be an offence punishable by fine to have a
nuisance on one’s premises.]

2. The filling up of stagnant water with
   earth is not likely to reduce materially the
   mischief to health which such water may be
   causing, to provide against which an im-
   provement in the drainage would seem to be
   needful.

3. There is no reference in the instruc-
   tions to any local authority ordinarily
   charged with seeing to the sanitary condi-
   tion of the villages. It may, in the circum-
   stances of the Colony, be impossible to
   provide such an authority; but the want of
   it will be much felt in reference to suffi-
   ciency of the means adopted to carry out
   the Inspector’s notices as to foul privies and
   cesspools.

Instead of the words “cleanse, or at least
disinfect with chloride of lime or carbolic
acid,” in paragraph 2, I should advise
“cleanse or empty, with the use of proper
disinfectants, such as chloride of lime or car-
bolic acid.”

4. Drinking water should (as was sug-
   gested by a pencil note, now accidentally
   erased), be protected against pollution by
   any filth or refuse, and not only against con-
   tamination by human excrement.

I am, &c.,
JOHN SIMON.

The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.