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181
STABLE REFUSE.
In former reports I had to note the frequency of complaints
of effluvium nuisance arising in the storage, and
especially in the removal of stable refuse from pits underground.
Thanks to the operation of the County Council's
bye-law, which has been carried out effectually in this parish,
complaints in respect to private premises are now few in
number; and as the cause for complaint, the sunken dungpit,
is almost a thing of the past, we may reasonably hope to
have less cause for annoyance on this score in the future. This
subject was fully dealt with in my annual report for 1894
(pp. 184-189), to which I would refer anyone desirous of
knowing what a serious difficulty the question involved, until
we were able to abolish, to a large extent, the brick receptacle,
whether above or below ground, and to substitute therefor the
iron cage now so familiar an object in the mews in this parish,
not far short of two hundred in number.

Sunken pits were allowed to remain in certain instances
simply because, owing to the construction of the stable
premises—the entire frontage being occupied by doors—it
was impracticable to provide any other form of receptacle. In
each such case the pit was reconstructed to a reduced depth
(the sides and floor being cemented) and drained to the sewer.