A general account of the formation and construction of the Board of Health having been given, some of the principal objects which occupied its attention may now be considered. The first which obviously presents itself, is the state of the City as regards its influence upon the public health.

The natural position of Exeter may be briefly summed up, - situated in a fertile and well cultivated country, and enjoying a mild and genial climate, it occupies the summit and declivities of a wedge-shaped hill, which afford to it the most ample facilities for the passage of free currents of air, and an easy and effectual drainage; a broad river flows at its foot, and streams of water and wells abound. In fact, its position and attendant circumstances are peculiarly salubrious and healthy.

In 1832, the period which now engages our attention, the City, as regards it social relations, may be said to have consisted of a dense population of 28,242 persons occupying, the older houses which had been built within the walls, and an airy and spreading suburb. The streets for the most part retained their ancient character, being generally narrow, and had leading from them numerous courts, lanes, and alleys. The pavement, except in the great thoroughfares, consisted of rounded pebbles, locally known as "pitching", so arranged as to secure a fall from the sides towards the centre of the road, which thus formed the gutter; this, in very nearly all the streets, was the only means whereby the sewage and nuisances of the City were removed. In some of the principal thoroughfares and districts occupied by the more wealthy inhabitants sewers had been recently constructed, but upon no general nor very perfect principle.

Beneficial as even this small amount of sewerage must have been, the very inadequate supply of water, then possessed by the City, materially curtailed the advantages which should have been derived from it. At this period, independently of the private wells, which were numerous, the public supply of water consisted solely of that afforded by the ancient conduit, a few public pumps, and the waterworks. The conduit, situated in the South Street, yielded a tolerably copious and constant stream to those, who waited with their long brown earthen-ware pitchers for their turn at the cock whence it was delivered. 

The waterworks, though much improved of late years, yet afforded an amount of water totally inadequate to the requirements of the people, while that from the wells and pumps was inapplicable to many domestic purposes. Much of the water used was, therefore, laboriously obtained by dipping it from the river or adjacent streams. This was an occupation which engaged, and was regularly pursued by, a large number of persons. 

The water was chiefly carried about in buckets, with a square or round piece of flat wood floating in each to prevent it splashing over; these buckets were suspended across the shoulders by a broad belt or strap by means of iron hooks at the ends, and kept apart by a hoop resting upon the upper rims, and against which the inner portions of the handles pressed. The ancient "water-carrier" of the city moved thus in the centre of the hoop with his arms at liberty. To the more distant part of the city the water thus obtained was carried in casks fixed upon small carts drawn by hand or by donkey. The price paid by the consumer was one halfpenny a bucket-full. At the period this is written, I believe the last trace of this small traffic has passed away, together with the public pumps, the water-works, and many of the private wells.

This inadequate water supply, combined with the deficiency of drainage, is of itself sufficient evidence, that the necessary accommodation for the daily usages of the population must have been very limited. The fact is, that though in the houses of the wealthier this stain was removed, or in the process of removal, amongst the poorer population conveniences of this nature were almost entirely wanting. Doubtless, much of the filth of the lower parts of the City was thus rendered inevitable, but much was also voluntary and immediately remediable. The extent to which it obtained, and the mischief produced thereby, could now scarcely be credited, and such as was not supposed, even at that time, to exist. The Reports of the District Committees detail a state of things beyond all belief, - to enter upon these would be tedious, if not disgusting, - suffice it to say, they speak of dwellings occupied by from five to fifteen families, huddled together in dirty rooms with every offensive accompaniment; of slaughter-houses in the Butcher-row, with their putrid heaps of offal; of pigs in large numbers kept throughout the City; the note appended to the description of one house states, "thirty-one pigstyes kept in such a state as would beggar description", and similar notes are frequent; of poultry kept in confined cellars and outhouses; of dung-heaps everywhere; - one courtlage was visited in which the accumulated filth and soil of thirteen years was deposited, and esteemed so valuable a property, that its removal was strenuously resisted. To add to this, in many parts, the visits of the scavengers took place but once a week. While the general characteristics of the City were those of health and pleasantness, such was the prevailing condition of the lower and neglected portions. The early proceedings of the Board of Health indicated this was felt to be most disgraceful and unsatisfactory; and an expression of compunction is not altogether wanting for the too obvious neglect, herein displayed, of the wants of the poor. Actuated by feelings of this nature, and the dread of the impending pestilence, the public Corporations combined with the Board of Health to abate and remedy these evils. Of the particular measures then contemplated, and which comprise the steps taken to ward off the disease, and, should it occur, for its alleviation, we shall now proceed to speak.

Footnote on the Conduit:

The water supplied from this ancient fountain was deemed of very great importance; accordingly many references, connected with it are found in the annuals of Exeter. As early as 1221 this water was brought into the City from its present sources in the upper part of the parish of St Sidwell, and delivered by a conduit erected in the centre of the High Street, below the "Quatrefois". In 1346 it is mentioned as conveyed into St. Peter’s Yard; in 1411, the supply being insufficient, an addition was provided by the bequest of Simon Grendon; in 1419 and 1438, mention is made of the pipes being repaired, etc; and in 1461, the conduit itself was rebuilt; in 1700, it was taken down again, in consequence of its position being found inconvenient, and removed to one side of the principal street, a little above its former position; here, however, from the numbers resorting to it, the inconvenience was found to be so great, that in 1795 it was again removed and fixed in South Street.

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