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fant of 7 weeks, and one of 8 months—they are therefore not cases of
an epidemic character calculated to cause anxiety.
My attention has been called by your Inspector to the condition of
some premises in St. James's-road; they arc fitted up as an extensive
piggery; nearly one hundred pigs were there, and although the styes
are paved and evidently well looked after, there was a most abominable
stench in and outside the place. This arises from the drainage
running into an open ditch by the side of the thoroughfare, and from
the open space of ground in front of the styes, which was one mass of
slough and filth of a most offensive character. Some amount of the
offensive effluvia was also caused by the food given to the pigs, which
was principally animal matter in a state of decomposition.
I have again inspected the premises of Mr. Barrow, in the Spa-road.
As regards the pits by the road-side, there is a manifest and most decided
improvement. The skutch, also complained of, is removed. But I
regret to state that there is a very considerable amount of offensive
effluvia, proceeding from pits in close contiguity to the Baths and Washhouses,
justly complained of by the officers of that most valuable
institution. I urged very strongly upon Mr. Barrow the absolute necessity
for remedying the cause of complaint, which he promised.
I have inspected also the premises of Mr. Brockwell, in Bermondsey
street, size manufacturer, and certify an accumulation of offensive
skutch thereon. Complaints are made from the factory of Messrs.
Christey, that there is occasionally a most sickening effluvia, which
proceeds from Mr. Brockwell's factory. From the appearance of the
skutch, I have little doubt that it is subjected to that most obnoxious
process by which fat is abstracted from it, by the agency of sulphuric
acid. Should direct evidence of this arise, I most strongly recommend
the adoption, by the Vestry, of prompt and decisive action for its instant
suppression.
In the premises of Mr. Axtell there is some improvement; but they
are still in an unsatisfactory and offensive state, arising, in a great
measure, from the sodden and saturated earth in the yard and around
the pits. There is also but little space, and it is altogether an unsuitable
spot for the trade carried on—abutting on the rear of the houses
in Bermondsey-street, the inmates of which have suffered considerably
in their health.
I certify also to an accumulation of offensive skutch on the premises
of Mr. Olney, Fellmonger, in Market Street.
At Messrs. Margetson's, there are some soaks separated from the
public thoroughfare simply by a wooden fence, a few feet only from the
pavement. I consider, as they are at times very offensive, that they
should be removed to a greater distance from the street, and that a
letter from the Vestry to Messrs. Margetsons should be written on the
subject. My attention has been directed to a very considerable heap
of refuse just over the border of our parish, in the Manor-road. I inspected
it on the 10th inst., it was not then offensive; but there was
some vegetable accumulation, which would in all probability soon become
so. The spot is open market-garden ground, and at a distance from
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