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7
There can be no doubt that it was the intention of the legislature, in passing
the Metropolitan Building Act, 7 & 8 Vict., cap. 84, to prevent the slaughtering of
cattle in crowded neighbourhoods, but the provisions of the act have not been enforced,
because no public body was specially authorized or required to pnt the act into
execution. All applications for the licensing of newly erected slaughter-houses in the
district, have been opposed by your Board, such places being considered contrary
to the provisions of the above recited Act. A new slaughter - house has,
however, been erected at Saint Katherine's Steam Wharf, and also at the Dublin
Wharf, in conformity, as it is alleged, with the regulations of the Board of Trade, requiring
the immediate slaughter of all diseased or injured animals, immediately on
their arrival in port; and upon these grounds, the Board did not oppose.
Before concluding this report, I wish to draw the attcntion of the Board to the
nuisance arising from the numerous laystalls and dung-heaps, which are usually to be
seen in the yards adjoining stables and cow sheds, upon which the refuse, from the
neighbourhood, and from the small slaughter-houses in the vicinity, is thrown. The
contents of privies have also been found flowing into these heaps, which are allowed to
accumulate until the quantity will pay for their removal. The effluvium, emitted from
the stirring up of each of these putrifying masses, is filthy in the extreme, and must
have a prejudicial effect upon the public health. Now, in order to prevent the injurious
consequences of these abominations, all filth, dung, garbage, and refuse, should be removed
daily from the premises of stables, cow-sheds, slaughter-houses and other places,
so that they shall not have time to putrify and infect the atmosphere. I am induced
to lay stress upon this point, because complaints have been made by some of the inhabitants
of the nuisance arising from the removal of dung and other filth from stables
and cow-yards, where it is allowed to accumulate in sufficient quantity to make it
worth the person's while to remove it. The only effectual way of getting rid of this
nuisance will be by the employment of a contractor to collect and remove out of the
district all such filth daily, whereby the formation of these dung-heaps will be
prevented. As complaints have also been made of the nuisance arising from cow-yards
and stables, I would respectfully advise the Board to insist upon such places being
provided with an effectual system of underground drainage, so that the offensive matter
shall not flow over the surface, thereby causing great annoyance and discomfort to the
inhabitants in the vicinity; more especially when the filth is being swept towards the
nearest gulley. The abolition of cesspools is, where practicable, steadily carried into
effect, (65 having been abolished during the last three months, making a total of 1605),
the beneficial result of which is shown in the diminution of fever cases.
The evils to the public health from the keeping of swine are also very great,
and, notwithstanding the several convictions which have taken place in your district on
that account, it requires the constant vigilance of your inspectors to detect and prevent
the recurrence of the nuisance.
One hundred and seventy-eight houses have been systematically visited by your
inspectors during the last quarter; the sanitary improvements effected therein will be