Folios 689-698. Letter from H B Vincent [Henry Bird Vincent], Medical Officer of...

Folios 689-698. Letter from H B Vincent [Henry Bird Vincent], Medical Officer of Health to the East Dereham Local Government Board within the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union, to the Local Government Board. He encloses a copy of his report as medical officer of Health to the East Dereham Local Government Board, read out at its meeting of 15 November 1880. He also encloses a newspaper copy of the proceedings of that meeting.
Report dated 10 November 1880 from Medical Officer of Health East Dereham Urban sanitary Authority, stating that he has spent the last few days in the company of the Inspector of Nuisances [William Henry Nankivell] visiting a large part of the town of East Dereham within the lighting area. He highlights problems with the current living conditions of the people at the Cowper Road end of Barwells Court, as here the road is often impassable after heavy rain. There are numerous problems with over flowing privies at some places and the complete lack of them at others, these include the lower end of Barwells Court, Baxter Row, Bates' Cottages, Coopers Yard near the Royal Standard and Swan Lane where he reported a problem caused by a man called Jessup. Further such problems are to be found at Church Street, the Crown Inn yard, Perry's yard, Wash Bridge abutting Church Yard and Beccles' Gate. He includes information concerning the problems encountered by poor people with the emptying of privies especially in respect of costs. He reports that the death rate for the month has been very heavy, included four deaths from zymotic disease. He had received on 2 November 1880 a copy of a notice from the clerk to the board of guardians stating that the parish medical officer has reported the existence of some cases of typhoid fever in America Row, Swan Lane. He describes fully the ages of the people affected and the conditions in which they were living, much of it due to the overcrowding affected infants. There have been many cases of diarrhoea and fever over the past month and he thinks he can explain this outbreak by quoting from Doctor Bruce Low, Medial Officer of Health for the Helmsley district Yorkshire in the British Medical Journal of 6 November 1880, as he has experienced many similar cases. The course of action he advises the Board to adopt would be to provide for the systematic cleansing of the privies, which he believes to be the cause of the increasing numbers of cases of diarrhoea in the district.
Newspaper article from The Eastern Daily Press, 11 November 1880, reports on a meeting of the sanitary committee of the East Dereham Local Government District, Local Board held on 3 November 1880 a mention was made of the receipt of a letter from W M Barton, the Clerk to the Guardians of the Mitford and Launditch Poor Law Union informing the committee of a report received from their medical officer relating to the cases of typhoid fever in the house of James Bone, shoemaker, of East Dereham. The medical officer had reported that the fever had been caused by overcrowding and ill ventilation with seven persons sleeping in one small bedroom and three in another still smaller. Mr Gibbs moved and Mr Brett seconded that the committee recommend the Board that in this and other similar cases that may arise the inspector have a discretionary power to cleanse and disinfect the privies and premises. The inspector asked the committee for advice on the action he was to take as laid down in by the Nuisance Removal Acts, clause 74. It was recommended by the committee that the tender of Thomas Norton for the removing of street sweepings and gully deposits was received and to increase the wages of the labourers employed on the highways. They also advised the clerk be instructed to take proceedings against Edward Head for contravention of an order of the justices made in reference to a house in his occupation. The surveyor was instructed to prepare a specification of the proposed sewage works to be executed by one contractor and submit to the committee. The medical officer read out his report. Several questions were then put to the medical officer relating to the points to which he had referred. Mr Brett state that to the best of his knowledge six had died under the age of 25 and of the rest three of them were over 85. The fact that there had been four cases of zymotic disease resulting in death in the town was serious. Brett did not believe they were in a worse position since they had discontinued with scavenging. Vincent replied that whilst the scavenging was being carried out the general health of the place was very good; but now the death rate was high. Mr Stebbings inquired as to the general state of accommodation in the town to which Vincent replied that it was mainly adequate if the places were properly and frequently cleansed. Mr Cooper thanked Vincent for the able and fearless manner in which he had done his duty. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report, seconded by Brett and carried, Brett thought the Board should take action on the report, as there were several matters of importance in it and he moved for a special meeting to be held the following Monday, seconded by Reverend B J Armstrong, resolution carried.
Newspaper article from People's Weekly Journal, 16 October 1880, reports that the health of the town of East Dereham is to be endangered for a sum of £75. This is to be the result as the Local board rejected Mr Gamble's contract and refuse to undertake the scavenging of the town, surprising many of the ratepayers, especially as the board had made provision in the new rate for paying the estimated costs of doing the work for the current year. It appears that the only argument against Mr Cooper's motion was that ratepayers living outside the lighting area would not be benefitted by the scheme. The meeting in question reports that the following members were present: Mr Bulwer presiding, and Messrs G H Cooper, J Warren, C Elvin, Studd, B Brett, Askew, F Gibbs, I Comer and W Stebbings. It contains a section relating to the medical officer giving his report to the sanitary committee, concerning the sanitary arrangements in the town, citing Bates' cottages and Mr Lain's well in Church Street and the matter of scavenging. Discussion on the matter is reported as taking place, resulting in the committee recommending the board to invite separate tenders for scavenging the town proper and for sweeping the streets. Cooper moved that the board undertakes the scavenging of the town and that the tender of Gamble be accepted. Comer enquired if the proposal included the whole rating district or simply the lighting district. Cooper replied the lighting district but would be happy to include the whole district. Warren asked that Cooper expunge from his motion the clause for accepting Gamble's tender because other tenders had been since received. Cooper agreed to this and Cooper seconded the motion. Elvin stated that as the last meeting of the board a resolution was passed affirming that the board should not undertake the scavenging of the town and that this resolution must be rescinded before Cooper's could be submitted. Cooper contended that as his motion was for the abatement of a nuisance and after looking at the report of the medical officer, this was a case of emergency; he felt his motion was in order. The chairman ruled the motion in order. Gibbs stated that Cooper had presented only one side of the question, he considered it unjust that those ratepayers who lived out of the town should be called upon to pay for something they would not benefit from. Brett seconded, and contended that the former resolution ought to be first rescinded before the present one could be entertained. The amendment was then put and carried by 6 to 2, Messrs Elvin, Studd, Brett, Askew, Gibbs and Comer voting for it and Cooper and Warren against it. A dialogue concerning the remarks made about a member of the board by Vincent, Medical officer is reported which resulted in Warren remarking that the report of the medical officer would bring on an enquiry which Askew stated would be a good thing, the board then adjourned.
Annotated: 'Minute below not yet dealt with', 17 November 1880.
Annotated: 'MO. This report was read to the Local Board on the 10 Instant, where it was decided to hold a special meeting on Monday next (i.e. the 15 Instant) to consider it. The MOH [Medical Officer of Health] writing on the 16, does not say what the result of the previous days meeting was ', 18 November 1880.
Annotated: 'I do not see on the file any draft letter prepared on [Mr Seudalls] instructions of November 11. That letter would now require some modification, and had probably best ask the result of the special meeting on the 15, saying perhaps that the Board wants the information as it may influence their own action', 18 November 1880.
Annotated: 'Please see minute below. Mr Rotton. I quite concur that opposition to the proposal is from the [unreadable]. Question, write to East Dereham and set forth the information which has been supplied to the Board from Doctor Vincent's report, say that as there is no efficient system of drainage in East Dereham it appears to the Board that the system of scavenging suggested would be of the greatest possible use, call attention to the provision of S42 and say that upon deciding whether they will issue an order under this section the Board are desirous that the [unreadable] their position in this matter', 21 October 1880.
Annotated: 'I think this would be a proper course', 11 November 1880.
Annotated: 'Prepare', 11 November 1880.
[See also paper number 89746/1880.]

Paper Number: 100940/1880.

Poor Law Union Number: 302.

Counties: Norfolk.