PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PEC.O. 885
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24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO`
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"On all premises occupied or intended to be occupied for human habita- tion there shall be provided such sanitary convenience of such description and construction and in such position on the premises as shall be satisfactory to the local sanitary authority";
(ii) the nature of the privy accommodation that shall be satisfactory to the local sanitary authority should be strictly defined by regulations of the General Board of Health, made under Cap. 45, Section 50, if that may be, or under the said section amended if so required;
(iii) the function of the local Board of Health in the clause of the Ordi- nance above suggested should be conferred in by-law for the purpose of con- tinuous executive to the Chief Sanitary Officer acting under the Board of Health;
(iv) the carrying out of the regulations of the General Board of Health should be obligatory and not permissive
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The nature of the by-laws defining latrine system recommended. The regu- lations or the by-laws of the General Board of Health might be after the manner here suggested:
(i) No building shall be occupied for human habitation unless and until the owner has provided closet convenience to the satisfaction of the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
(ii) No human excrement shall be disposed of by being deposited on the surface of the soil, or in any stream or watercourse, or in any manner within 100 yards of any stream or watercourse; but (a) shall be deposited in the sea in such situation as shall be satisfactory to the General Board of Health and in such manner as to prevent the occurrence of nuisance; or (b) shall be deposited in a pit in the ground which shall have a depth of no less than 4 feet and a surface section of no less than 3 feet by 3 feet, and which shall be protected from storm-water and from the access of all animals; and shall not be emptied, but shall, when the contents of the pit are within no less than 6 inches of the surface of the surrounding ground, be filled up by having a layer of soil placed on top of the contents of the pit; or (c) shall be disposed of by combustion by fire in such manner as to prevent nuisance and to the satisfaction of the Chief Sani- tary Inspector.
(iii) No person shall deposit on any highway (main road, by-road, public footpath, etc.), or on any premises, except in such situation as is stated in these regulations, human excrement or any other matter likely to be a nuisance or injurious to health;
for
(iv) Every person who shall offend against, etc., shall be liable to a penalty of
and to a daily penalty not exceeding every day the offence continues.
No demand for any special type of closet is made, but the necessities of deposit make it advantageous to erect a pit closet; and by advice of sanitary inspectors and leaflets distributed the manner, construction, and maintenance in a sanitary con- dition of this type of closet will be demonstrated.
4. Estimated cost of any recommendations.-In general we do not make any recommendations calling for expenditure of the funds of the Colony, except in the case of schools and increased sanitary inspection.
There are thirty-seven schools in the island, at which, we are assured, the con- struction of model pit olosets will have direct good effect on the health of the scholars and secondary effect through example on the surrounding community.
The estimated cost per school is £10, and there would be a saving on the scavenging account.
We do not recommend any considerable extension of latrine accommodation in towns and villages; the towns, we consider, are well provided for; the villages are few, and their claims should be treated on their merits as they arise.
We believe that to insist that privy accommodation is a domestic necessity and not a public convenience will ensure more fully a measure of safety to the present The habits of the people are to be guided by leading as to coming generations.
the young.
The services of the District Sanitary Inspector in the area already under operation have been, and should be, of great value: but we recommend in every district the appointment of junior sanitary inspectors to undertake chiefly house-to- house visitation on a clearly defined plan, which cannot be undertaken to any extent by the present staff.
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Finally, while we recommend that the school improvement and the legislative changes be undertaken and completed without delay, we believe that the feeling of the people in general is favourable, and that with the assistance of the District Sanitary Inspectors and the officers of the International Health Commission a certain amount of progress is already taking place.
We have, &c..
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,
E. F. HATTON,
Colonial Surgeon. Angus MACDONALD,
Medical Officer in Charge.
Chairman, and members of the Advisory Committee.
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SIR,
No. 101.
LEEWARD ISLANDS.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE ACTING GOVERNOR (Miscellaneous.)
Downing Street, 13th May, 1915. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. Bell's despatch No. 127, of the 8th of April,* enclosing copies of Dr. Marshall's report on the prevalence of ankylostomiasis in Antigua.
2. A copy of this report had already been received from Dr. Marshall, whose views have also been obtained in personal interviews.
3. The report reflects much credit on Dr. Marshall, and the International Health Commission have conveyed to me their appreciation of the value of the work which he has carried out.
4. I am glad to learn that, through the generosity of the Commission, an experimental campaign for the eradication of ankylostomiasis is to be undertaken without delay. concur with your view that there is at present no sufficient justification for the adoption of compulsory measures, which have not been found necessary in other Colonies in similar circumstances.
5. I approve the budget of expenditure enclosed in your despatch under reply. The necessary vote should be taken in the Legislature in the manner indicated in my despatch of the 25th March, 1914.†
6. In accordance with the general understanding with the International Health Commission, the Field Director should receive a formal appointment from you.
7. I shall be glad if you will furnish periodical reports showing what is being done for the improvement of sanitary conditions in Antigua concurrently with the progress of the campaign.
8. I shall be obliged if you will furnish me with twelve additional copies of the report for distribution. In accordance with a suggestion made by Dr. Marshall, I have invited the West India Committee to co-operate in bringing the report to the attention of estate proprietors resident in this country.
I have, &c.,
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L. HARCOURT.
No. 102. COLONIAL OFFICE to THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION. SIR,
Downing Street, 17th May, 1915. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Harcourt to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd ultimo,‡ notifying the departure of Dr. Darling and Dr. Barber from New York, and enclosing memoranda on the qualifications of Dr. Washburn. Dr. Jacocks, and Dr. Covington.
2. I am to request you to convey to the International Health Commission an expression of Mr. Harcourt's thanks for the information enclosed in your letter, and to add, with reference to the first paragraph, that Sir J. Anderson had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Dr. Darling when that gentleman passed through London.
I am, &c.,
H. J. REAL, for the Under-Secretary of State.
* No. 95.
+ No. 86 in Miscellaneous No 804.
↑ No. 96.
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