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of the necessity of removing them. In case
of obstinate indisposition to see this necessity
and to act accordingly, give notice as provided in the 6th section of the Ordinance in respect of any of the various nuisances enumerated above, as follows:—In respect of (1) and
(2), to remove either by filling up with earth or
otherwise as may appear to the Inspector
most feasible; in respect of (3), to cleanse or
at least to disinfect with chloride of lime or
carbolic acid; of (4), to remove entirely;
(5), the same; (6), to clear; (7) to white-
wash house, or to adopt such other means of
cleansing as may appear to the Inspector
most easily attainable.

III. Note in your report, or in urgent
cases inform the Executive at once, on what
premises the abatement or removal of nuisances is beyond the power or means of the
owners or occupiers, and the probable cost of
the work required.

IV. In any case of non-compliance with
notice, arising from any other cause than
want of power or means, proceed at once for
the recovery of the penalty, or have the
necessary work performed at the expense of
the owner of the premises; adopting whichever course is likely to lead to the desired
end in the shorter time.

V. Note any case where water in use for
the purposes of drinking and cooking is liable
to be contaminated by human excretions, not
only directly, but by drainage through the
earth, and suggest in your report the best
preventive measures.

With regard to the importance of this
duty, it may be well to mention
that 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 im-
pure air and defective ventilation.
When a number of persons are in the
habit of sleeping in a defectively
ventilated apartment, and this is
insufficiently large to contain at
least 800 cubic feet of air for each
person, they should be warned
(unless the neighbourhood is
especially malarious) that they are
liable to suffer far more injury from
closed than from open windows,
and especially in time of epidemic.

VII. Bear in mind throughout your inspec-
tion that though foul smells are always an
indication of danger, danger may nevertheless
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 desirable
in endeavouring to obtain it, to use persuasion
rather than compulsion. While the measures
required should be insisted upon with firm-
ness, no opportunity should be lost of explain-
ing to the ignorant that they are necessary
for health and safety. Allusion to the mor-
tality 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 shortcomings would be the least
execusable. 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 additionally 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 Jan., 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 communication
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.