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Bye-Laws, excepting that where any apparatus shall be newly fitted in
connection with any existing water-closet the requirements of the
Bye-Laws as would be applicable to the apparatus if such water-closet
was being newly constructed must be complied with.
Smoke Nuisances.
The duty of enforcing the abatement of smoke nuisances formerly
performed by the police, now by Sections 23 and 24 of the Public
Health Act, devolves upon the Sanitary Authority; and in many cases
where there was an infringement of the Act letters were written calling
the attention of the offenders to the nuisance, which was then abated ;
but the complaints of the smoke arising from the Fulham Pottery, in
spite of several letters, were so numerous that the Vestry took
proceedings against them "for so negligently using the furnace as that
the smoke arising therefrom is not effectually consumed or burnt."
The summons was dismissed, without costs, the magistrate holding that
although the existence of the nuisance was shown, it was for the Vestry
to prove that the furnace was so constructed so as to consume or burn
the smoke arising therefrom, otherwise there could be no conviction for
negligence.
Overcrowding.
Sixteen houses were certified as being overcrowded, and notices to
abate the overcrowding were served on the persons responsible for it,
which were promptly complied with. From the census returns it is
evident that there is a good deal of overcrowding in the parish, but it
escapes notice, as the staff of inspectors is too limited to undertake a
systematic examination even of the very poor property, which is so
eminently desirable. Much good could probably be effected if district
visitors and others who visit the poor would always inform the Sanitary
Department of any case of apparent overcrowding, and of any
insanitary condition they meet with. At present it is greatly to be
regretted that so few complaints are received from those who necessarily
have an intimate knowledge of the conditions under which the majority
of the poor live.
BAKEHOUSES.
There are 75 bakehouses in Fulham which have been regularly
inspected during the year. On the whole they have been found in a
fairly satisfactory condition; great improvements in respect to the