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16 slaughter-houses and 13 cow-houses I did not consider it
necessary to serve any notices. As regards the remainder, the
works necessary chieflyconsisted of the provision of proper manure
pits and the proper paving of the yards in connection with the
buildings, and intimations were accordingly sent to the respective
owners. In 9 cases the work had not been completed to our
satisfaction on the day appointed for our giving notice to the
County Council of the Vestry's intention to oppose the license.
By the day of hearing the applications the work had been done
satisfactorily in all but three instances; these were adjourned
for three weeks by Licensing Committee, and at the end of that
time we were able to withdraw all opposition.
In connection with cases of infectious disease I have to
report that 1,709 houses and 2,190 lots of bedding were
disinfected during the year, and it is with pleasure that I have
to state that notwithstanding the difficulties of their duties, not
a single complaint has been made against your disinfecting staff.
I must commend to the approval of the Vestry the work
done by the Inspectors during the past year; their task is
always difficult and often unpleasant. I have to express my
thanks to them for much assistance, inspections and other work,
and also to the two clerks, to whom I am largely indebted for
the figures of this report, and of whose careful attention to the
clerical work I can only speak with admiration.
This report would not be fittingly ended were I to omit
to pay a tribute of respect and admiration to the memory of my
distinguished predecessor. Dr. Bristowe enjoyed a world-wide
reputation as a physician and as a writer, and he would equally
be regarded as an authority on Public Health, if it were only
realised how much he did for the sanitary state of Camberwell.
He came at a time when there were no stringent sanitary laws
to enforce his opinion and no public opinion in sanitary matters
to assist him, and he was opposed by strong interests. The
first he lived to see passed, while he was instrumental in
promoting the second, and by his geniality of manner, no less
than by the force and cogency of his arguments he succeeded in
breaking down much of the opposition with which he was
at first confronted.
I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
FRANCIS STEVENS.