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ment now in operation, relating to sanitary matters, are very defective, from the want of
definitive terms, such as the precise meaning to be attached to "ventilation," "lighting,"
and "over-crowding." As regards lighting and ventilation, the building act requires, that
" every building used, or intended to be used as a dwelling-house, unless all the rooms can be
lighted and ventilated from a street or alley adjoining, shall have in the rear, or on the sida
thereof, an open space exclusively belonging thereto, of the extent, at least, of 100 square feet."
Nothing is said about the sufficiency of such lighting and ventilation ; and therefore any
builder can erect houses, in places however unsuitable for health they may be, provided that
air and light are admitted into each room, without regard to the size of open space in front of
each room. I have no hesitation in stating my opinion, that all narrow courts, with houses on
each side, unless ventilated by a free current of air passing through them, arc most dangerous
to the public health; and I sincerely hope that the last building act will be so amended, that
houses in future shall be built in thoroughfares only. The clause in the Nuisances Removal
Act, relating to over-crowding, although, perhaps, somewhat more definite than the clause in
the Building Act relating to lighting and ventilation, is nevertheless imperfect; inasmuch as
the over-crowding of a room is to be determined by the Medical Officer of Health of the
district* but as the minimum space for each inmate is not fixed, a difference of opinion may
occur on the part of those who have to determine the requisite amount of space. If the minimum
space for each inmate were determined by the act, then the fitness or unfitness for
habitation of any particular room, might, in other respects, be properly left to the discretion
of the Medical Officer of Health, who would judge whether such room could be safely occupied.
The minimum space allowed in the wards of a workhouse for each inmate, is determined by
the Poor Law Board: that space is 300 cubic feet in dormitories, and 500 cubic feet in sick
wards, or rooms occupied by day and by night, and this space is to possess the requisites of
efficient ventilation.
The inspectors have completed a large amount of sanitary work during the last quarter.
Nearly every house in the Hamlet of Mile End New Town has been inspected, and wherever
a sewer existed within 100 feet of any house, which was not drained into such sewer, notice
has been served upon the owner or occupier to do so. Since the commencement of the operations
of the Board, 5350 houses have been systematically visited, 2054 cesspools abolished,
1870 soil-pans have been provided with water, 1905 houses have been lime-whited, and 1207
dust-bins have been erected. The full particulars relating to the work done by the inspectors,
will be seen on reference to the tables in the appendix.
The following trades-nuisances have been abated during the last quarter:—the bleaching
of cane, the re-burning of animal charcoal, the roasting of malt, &c. A great many of the
noxious vapours arising from the several manufactories can be destroyed by causing them to
pass through a fire. The simple expedient of having a gas fire in the chimney shaft, and the
building so arranged, that all the noxious vapours shall pass through that fire, would go far to
obviate the nuisance arising from the escape of sush vapours.
The vaults under Spitalfields Church, Whitechapel Church, Trinity Minories Church,
and the Lutheran Chapel, in Hooper Square, having, for several years past been closed
against further interments, an order in council, to the following effect, was sent to the
churchwardens in the respective parishes:—
1. That where aceessible, the vaults be freely lime-whited.
2. That the coffins in the vaults be covered with fresh earth, and powdered charcoal:
that the existing entrances and ventilating openings be closed, and that a ventilating tube be
carried from each vault, to the roof of the building.
3. That the works be effected under the superintendence of the Medical Officer of
Health for the district, and that disinfectants be used whenever necessary.
These orders have been complied with in the vaults under Whitechapel Church, and
the Lutheran Chapel, and are about to be complied with by the authorities in Trinity Minories,
in the vaults underneath that Church; but in consequence of the vaults under Spitalfields