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I place so much reliance on the efficacy of the free use of water in
our district, during the present temperature and season, that I venture
very respectfully and urgently to advise additional watering carts, even
although attended with some increased expense, for a temporary
period.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN CHALLICE, M.D.,
Officer of Health.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
July 5th, 1858.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —I have on two occasions, viz., on
the 5th and the 2nd instant, inspected the premises of Messrs. Eason in
reference to the complaint made to this Board of a most offensive and
aggravated nuisance, arising from the process of tan burning. I have
also, since the last meeting of the Vestry, directed my attention constantly
to the shaft through which the smoke arising from this process
passes to the atmosphere, and which is the source of the nuisance complained
of. My report now must be the same as on a former occasion.
The facts are exactly similar. The tan is consumed in a closed furnace
or oven, and the smoke is passed through a flue over a fire into the
shaft. On some occasions there has undoubtedly been much smoke
escape from the shaft; and in certain conditions of the atmosphere it
has been a considerable discomfort to the neighbourhood, occasioning
cough, and also nausea with loss of appetite. Lately, however, I have
not observed any amount of smoke which would cause such legitimate
grounds of complaint. This improvement may fairly be attributed to
increased pains and care taken in keeping the fire in the flue constantly
fed with coals, for then the quantity of smoke which escapes is trifling
in comparison with what it is under other circumstances. My attention
and that of your Inspector being now directed to the question, any
occasion in which the neighbourhood is subjected to inconvenience,
which must be the result of inattention or neglect, shall be presented
to this Vestry on the first opportunity.
My attention has been called to offensive effluvia proceeding from the
premises of Messrs. Barrow & Son in the Spa-road. On inspection, I
found some pits close to the foot pavement, and others within a few
feet, which contained very offensive matters; there was also an
accumulation of skutch by the palings, and there is an offensive privy
abutting on the pavement. The practice of keeping skins in "old
soaks" is one which I am pleased to find is being abolished by some of
the large firms; as it is now ascertained that the plentiful use of fresh
water is in every respect preferable. I look upon the entire abolition
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