CO885-24 — Page 434

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :—

LICO. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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merely to securing that any amendment to the law or any by-laws affected should be placed on the statute in such manner that they may be simply and effectively carried out.

We are of opinion that privy accommodation should exist on all premises used for human habitation, and suggest that

(i) there be inserted in the body of the Public Health Ordinance a clause to the effect that:

"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 Health 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 Ordinance above suggested should be conferred in by-law, for the purpose of continuous execu- tive, 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.

3. The Nature of the By-laws defining Latrine System" recommended. The regulations or 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 one hundred 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 four feet, and a surface section of no less than three feet by three 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 six 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 Sanitary Inspector. (iii) No person shall deposit on any highway (main road, by-road, public foot- path, etc.), or on any premises except in such situation as is stated in these regula- tions, human excrement or any other matter likely to be a nuisance or injurious to health.

(iv) Every person who shall offend against, etc., shall be liable to a penalty

and to a daily penalty not exceeding

for every day the offence of. 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 closets 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.

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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 as to coming generations. The habits of the people are to be guided by leading the

young.

The services of the District Sanitary Inspector in the areas already under opera- tion 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.

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 Sani- tary Inspectors and the officers of the International Health Commission a certain amount of progress is already taking place.

We have, &c.,

E. F. HATTON,

Colonial Surgeon. ANGUS MACDONALD,

Medical Officer in Charge.

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,

Chairman, and Members of the Advisory Committee.

31935

No. 2.

CEYLON.

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 12th July, 1915.)

The Rockefeller Foundation, International Health Commission, SIR,

61, Broadway, New York, 29th June, 1915. REPLYING to your communication No. 27219/1915, dated 18th June,* I beg to advise that your interpretation of the plan of treatment proposed for Ceylon is in accordance with that of the International Health Commission. It is regarded by the Commission as fundamental that treatment in all cases be based upon persuasion and the education of public opinion.

30932

No. 3.

I am, &c.,

WICKLIFFE ROSE.

WINDWARD ISLANDS (GRENADA).

COLONIAL OFFICE to THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH COMMISSION.

SIR,

[Answered by No. 17.]

Downing Street, 16th July, 1915.

I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Bonar Law to inform you that the Medical Officer in charge of the ankylostomiasis campaign in Grenada, with the support of the Colonial Surgeon, has recommended that throughout the schools of the Colony the existing pan system of latrines should be abandoned in favour of the pit system. Dr. Macdonald has forwarded, in support of his recommendation, a copy of a paper read by him in Grenada on "The disposal of human excreta in the tropics," of which a copy is no doubt in your possession; while the pit system which he recom mends is apparently identical with that described on page 20 of the pamphlet "The Eradication of Ankylostomiasis," publication No. 6 of the International Health Commission.

The Governor deprecates the change on the ground of expense, and contende that the existing system fulfils all requirements.

R 2

No. 113 in Miscellaneous No. 110.