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description, in the rear of a Licensed Slaughter-house in Long Lane. The
entrails and excrement of the slaughtered animals are thrown up in heaps
by a gateway entering from Chapel Place. There is a large pool also of
green, putrid, and offensive water, for which there appears no drainage
whatever. Unless this nuisance be promptly removed or altogether
remedied, I strongly recommend the Vestry to oppose a renewal of the
license at the forthcoming session.
The deaths for the week ending April 16th were 27, which is
slightly in excess of the corrected average. For the week terminating
April 23rd the mortality was but 20, whilst the corrected average
would be 27 5/10. There was one fatal case of Diptheria in St. James's
district.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN CHALLICE, M.D.,
Officer of Health.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
May 16th, 1859.
The smoke and vapour arising from the process of malt roasting on
the premises of Mr. Petch, at Dockhead, has since my last report upon
this subject on the 2nd instant, not diminished, but I regret to add has
considerably increased, and is in my opinion now a nuisance of some
magnitude, inasmuch as the peculiar odour causes nausea and headache
in many individuals, with loss of appetite, although there are others who
have become habituated to it, and. do not suffer to the same extent.
On the 13th instant the vapour and effluvia were strongly perceptible
at the Vestry Offices in Maltby Street; as I approached towards the
premises they became increased, and on entering the yard the smell
was so intense and powerful as to be quite sickening. The cylinder in
which the malt is roasted had just been emptied, so that the smoke
was less in volume and density than it is during the roasting. The gas
was not burning, therefore the current of air which is generally kept
up, through the shafts in the roof, thereby greatly facilitating ventilation,
and to the same extent diminishing the cause of complaint on
the part of the public—was not in operation.
I am inclined to believe that it is principally owing to the inattention
and neglect in using the best means for carrying off the vapour
from these premises, through the shafts and the jets of ignited gas, that
the neighbourhood has lately suffered so much annoyance.
I again inspected the premises on the 14th instant, about ten o'clock
a.m. Volumes of dense suffocating vapour came from the open windows;
I endeavoured to ascertain if the gas fires were lighted, but I
cannot speak with confidence upon the subject, as the smoke was so
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