View report page

for prompt and decided measures for stopping these processes so
offensive and injurious to health.
The premises of Mr. Brockwell are improved, and so are those of
Messrs. Axtell, in a very marked degree. These instances are satisfactory,
as affording a proof that, with care and moderate attention, great
mitigation of offensive effluvia may without difficulty be accomplished.
The state of the open ditches in the Blue Anchor-lane, and adjoining
district, is much aggravated in consequence of the drainage works
in progress in Jamaica-row. The contents are now offensive in the
highest degree, and have remained stagnant for several weeks. I consider
it most necessary, not only for the preservation of the health of
the inhabitants of that district, but also for the welfare, in some degree,
of the Metropolitan population, that lime should be freely used at once
for deodorisation, before the blackened putrescent liquid be let into the
river Thames. On enquiry, I find that in the course of the present
week, the advanced state of the works above mentioned will permit of
the inlet of the tide, I strongly advise that some steps should be immediately
taken in order that dangerous consequences may be avoided.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN CHALLICE, M.D.,
Officer of Health.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
August 16th, 1858.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —At this period of the year, the responsibilities
of your Officer of Health are necessarily materially increased,
as it is the season when, on former occasions, our population suffered so
severely from epidemic Cholera. It is my duty to advise you as to the
steps necessary to be taken in a precautionary point of view—should I
omit to do so the blame would, of necessity, rest with me. I have on
a former occasion reported to you on the unsatisfactory condition of the
manufacturing premises occupied by Mr. Morris, at John street, Dockhead;
and I regret that the recommendations which I considered
necessary for the protection of the health of the inhabitants of that
crowded locality have not been attended to. On inspection last Wednesday,
I found that the pits used for the East India kips were offensive
in the highest degree—the surface of the liquid being of a blue-black
colour, and on the slightest agitation giving off a most offensive odour,
in which "sulphuretted hydrogen," (gas known to be most deleterious
to human health) largely predominated. It appears also that the contents
of these pits are let off into a drain, the effluvia from which
penetrates the tenements in immediate proximity to the yard. In one
of these dwellings a severe and fatal case of summer Cholera lately occurred.
8