Further reports (no. 4) on flies as carriers of infection.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Further reports (no. 4) on flies as carriers of infection. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/52 (page 4)
    As stated, the tip consisted mainly of dust-bin refuse, and in this refuse fermentation was actively going on, the fresher portions steaming vigorously when the top layer was disturbed ; it was in fact an almost ideal breeding place for house-flies. The older parts of the heap were turfed over or covered with a layer of road- sweepings. The refuse was brought up in closed barges from Norwich, along the river Yare, to a backwater situated on the north side of the tip ; it was then removed from the barges by means of a crane, and shot along the west side of the tip. On the north side, adjoining the backwater, is a workman’s shelter-hut heated by a coke-stove, which was kept continuously burning day and night, and on the east side, where the river Yare flows close past the heap, is a small wharf raised on piles about 10 feet above the surface of the water. On the opposite side of the river is a steep bluff some 60-75 feet in height. The accompanying map shows the 50-foot contour line Sketch Map showing relative position of Postwick Village and Norwich Corporation Refuse Deposit; illustrating results of Experiments on Range of Flight of Flies. (Places at which ** marked ” flies were recovered indicated by 0). Approximate scale, 500 yards to 1 inch.