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some gothic cottages in Bell Green, belonging to Mrs. Cowburn,
into the sewer which passes through the garden immediately in
front of them. The order was made upon the report of the Medical
Officer of several cases of malignant fever (of which some were
fatal), having occurred in the cottages for want of drainage, but notwithstanding
these circumstances an appeal was made to the Metropolitan
Board against the order, by which a delay of many months
was created, but the order was confirmed after a lengthened hearing,
and the examination of witnesses on both sides; still the owner
neglected to effect the drainage of the premises, which was ultimately
done by the Board, and the expenses incurred not having
been paid, it has been necessary to issue a summons for their recovery.
Cesspools have also, in many cases, been required to be made or
emptied where drainage into sewers has been impracticable; but for
the proceedings of the Board in the abatement of nuisances, reference
must be made to the summary of nuisances reported by the
Medical Officer, and it must suffice to state here a few instances in
which the sanitary jurisdiction of the Board has been beneficially
exercised. A material improvement in the ventilation of the Infirmary
of the North Surrey Industrial Schools, at Anerley, has
been effected at their instigation, acting on the reports of their
Medical Officer; and although the fact may not be altogether attributable
to the alterations, it is with satisfaction that the Board have
learned that since they were completed (4th January last), only one
death has occurred in the Institution, 13 deaths having taken place
during the 12 months prior to the alterations, of which number
9 were from preventible causes, that is, such diseases as are
usually consequent upon insufficient ventilation and drainage. In
compliance with a request from the Board, the Directors of the
Crystal Palace District Gas Company have discontinued keeping
the accumulations of refuse on their premises, which were so loudly
complained of by the inhabitants in the neighbourhood, and reported
by the Medical Officer of Health. Nuisances from persons keeping
pigs in confined neighbourhoods, from ballast-burning and brickmaking
in inhabited parts of the district, and from other sources,
have also, in many instances, been abated.
FINANCE.
The financial embarrassments of the Board were, as mentioned in
the previous report, temporarily staved off by applying towards the
general purposes money which had been borrowed for carrying out
certain sewerage works, but as such works were from time to time
executed, and payment for them became due, the difficulties of the
position were fully felt, and the Board were obliged to have recourse