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Meteorology.
The tables published in the annual summary of the Registrar-General, and prepared by Mr.
James Glaisher, F.R.S., from observations at Greenwich, show that the mean temperature of the air
in the year 1893 was 51.1 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.5 degrees above the average of 122 years. The
mean temperature of each quarter of the year was also in excess of the corresponding mean of 122 years.
The rainfall in the year 1893 amounted to 2013 inches, and was 4.98 inches less than the mean of
78 years. The amount of rainfall in each of the first three quarters of the year 1893 was below the
average of the corresponding quarter of 78 years, that of the fourth quarter above the average of 78
years. The temperature and rainfall in each month were as follows—

ADMINISTRATION.
Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops.
During 1893 the Council's inspectors made 11,034 inspections of dairies and milkshops, and
3,960 inspections of cowsheds. In 9 instances legal proceedings under the Dairies, Cowsheds and
Milkshops Order were instituted, and in 7 of these, penalties amounting in the aggregate to £19 were
imposed.
The number of applications for renewal of existing licenses to cowsheds, dealt with during the
year, was 500, of these 483 were granted. Four licenses were granted in the case of new premises for
the first time.
217 cases of infectious disease occurring in milkshop premises were dealt with during the year;
these included 133 cases of scarlet fever, 46 cases of diphtheria and membranous croup. 21 cases of
enteric fever, 10 cases of smallpox, 5 cases of erysipelas and 2 cases of measles. In all cases steps were
taken to prevent contamination of the milk.
Offensive Trades.
During 1893 the Council's inspectors made 4,947 inspections of premises upon which offensive
trades (including that of a slaughterer of cattle) were carried on. In 18 instances legal proceedings
were instituted, in 15 of these penalties amounting in the aggregate to £56 15s. were inflicted.
The number of applications for renewal of existing licenses to slaughterhouse premises dealt
with during the year was 528, of these 522 were granted. In the case of knackers' yards, seven existing
licenses were renewed.
The Council sanctioned during the year the establishment anew of the business of a slaughterer
of cattle in four instances, and that of a fellmonger in one instance. An application of Messrs. J. C.
and J. Field under sec. 19 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, for sanction to the establishment
anew of the business of a soap.boiler (such business being a business in which tallow or any animal fat
or oil, other than olein, is not used by admixture with alkali for the production of soap) was also
granted. Messrs. Field undertook to relinquish their existing right to conduct the business of a soapboiler
under sec. 19 (1) (a) of the Act at premises in Bermondsey.
Two persons were convicted for establishing anew, without the sanction of the Council, the
business of a gut-scraper.
In March, complaints were received that serious nuisance was caused in Deptford by the
distillation of " bone oil," a substance produced in the process of manufacturing animal charcoal. I
reported to the Committee and pointed out that " the business of an animal charcoal manufacturer, that
* See footnote (*), page 6.