“67. Mellon’s-square is the seat of epidemic disease, and as such was brought under the notice of the Sanitary Com-
mittec by Mr. Buchanan, Surgeon. The history of this place is instructive :—
“The Sanitary Officer, their agent, found it unfit for human habitations; ,the owner was summoned before the magistrates, when he stated ‘it was as sweet as nut ‘; the magistrates visited the spot, and ordered the numerous nuisances, such as piggeries, heaps of dung, green stagnant water 2 or 3 feet deep, and large heaps of ashes with the usual accumulations of decomposing excrementitious and other matters, to be immediately removed. The landlord was afterwards compelled, at considerable outlay, to make a culvert into George’s-street, and since then the aspect of the whole place is altered. Fever has disappeared,
and the comfort of the inhabitants very much improved.
“Some of the houses now are badly ventilated, being built back to back. It is due to the landlord to state that he has latterly made some
improvement in the property“
Report to the General Board Health on the Sewerage, Drainage, and Supply of Water, and the Sanitary Condition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of NEWPORT.
George Thomas Clark
Clark Report, Pp 21-22
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