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TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
February 7th, 1859.
Gentlemen, —At the last meeting of the Vestry, complaints having
been made of the existence of offensive effluvia in the Spa road, I, on
the 2nd instant, visited and inspected the premises of Messrs. Barrow
and Son, and also those of Messrs. Gibbs and Austin: your Inspector of
Nuisances accompanied me. I have no hesitation in stating that an
arrangement recently made by the Messrs. Barrow must of necessity
become a very serious, if not dangerous nuisance to the neighbourhood,
if not removed. They have recently commenced using a capacious pit,
for soaking East Indian kips, which is within a few paces of the
public thoroughfare, and adjoining the house in the Spa-road occupied
by Mr. Dodd. Of the extreme necessity of removing this source of
nuisance promptly there can be no doubt, and I advise a notice or
recommendation to Mr. Barrow to this effect. It is but justice to this
gentleman to state that the yard appears to be exceedingly well kept;
there is no accumulation of refuse, and care seems to be taken (with the
exception above mentioned) to carry on the manufacture with all due
sanitary precautions.
In the premises of Messrs. Gibbs and Austin there is an old soak,
which is when stirred or disturbed most offensive, and is within a few
yards of the public pavement. As this can be removed to a greater
distance, and the stench would be thereby much diminished, and its
injurious effects upon the public health considerably lessened, I advise
a notice to Messrs. Austin and Gibbs to the same effect.
The mortality for the week ending January 29th is 24, the corrected
average for the corresponding period during the last 10 years is 29.
There were six in St. Mary Magdalen, 8 in the Leather Market, and
10 in St. James's district. The births in the same period are 59.
There is one case mentioned as Diptheria, in King-street; but complicated
as it was with consumption, it is not of a nature to excite
apprehension.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN CHALLICE.
Officer of Health.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
Feburuary 21st, 1859.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —On Thursday, the 19th instant, I
attended at the police-court with your inspector to enforce your proceedings
against the owner of houses in Marigold-court, which have
been certified as unfitted for human habitation, in consequence of their
filthy and dilapidated condition, and the entire absence of privy accommodation,
combined with accumulation of filth, and other circumstances
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