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34
we served a copy on the owner of every Cow-house and
Slaughter-house in our district, and on our inspecting them somewhat
later we found with two exceptions the necessary alterations
carried out. These two cases were reported to the Vestry who
authorized objections to be taken at the meeting of the Licensing
Committee of the Council, in one case the application was not
proceeded with, the license therefore lapsed, in the other instance
Mr. Twaits attended in support of the Vestry's objection which
was upheld by the Council. I am pleased to say that we found
them generally to be kept in a cleanly condition; the practice of
keeping numbers of animals in such crowded localities as our
own is to be regretted, as however cleanly they are kept, whenever
the periodical removal of manure takes place it becomes a
source of considerable nuisance to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood;
with regard to the Slaugliter-houses the same may be
said of them and their is no doubt that public abbatoirs such as
are in use in Continental cities are much to be preferred.
SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
The majority of these necessary places have been a long time
a standing reproach to the various sanitary districts in and around
London, which are at times a nuisance and an annoyance to the
pedestrian traffic ; for a number of years the Sanitary Committee
of this Vestry have regularly brought forward a proposal to build
one or more underground conveniences in various parts of the Hamlet,
but the Vestry have always rejected the proposals and so the
matter has been shelved; this year however the proposition was
again brought up to the Board by the Committee, at about the
time when the unemployed agitation was acute, and the Vestry
resolved on building one of these places at Mile End Gate; this
has proved a wise step for although it has only been in operation
a few months it is almost self-supporting and has been the means
of sweeping away one of the greatest eyesores in the district.
It is to be hoped that before long the Vestry will go thoroughly
into this matter and gradually displace the existing above ground
urinals. A visit to any of the present urinals say on a Saturday
night would convince the most sceptical of the necessity of
carrying out this improvement for the public welfare.
I have now, gentlemen, given you a general outline of the
work that is being carried on in my department ; I must thank
the members of the Vestry collectively and individually for the
support always given to the Sanitary Officers and myself in
carrying out a work which it is our pleasure to be engaged in.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS TAYLOR,
Medical Officer of Health.