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5.—Notifications of Infectious Disease in the Metropolis.
I append (page 62) a summary of the cases of infectious disease
notified to the several Metropolitan Medical Officers of Health (and
by them reported to the Metropolitan Asylums Board as the Act
directs), 3,639 in number; including small-pox 17, scarlet fever
1,864, diphtheria 1,060, and enteric fever 162. The cases notified in
the three preceding four-weekly periods were 2,999, 2,601 and
2,990 respectively.
6.—Inquests.—The cause of death in 21 cases, including 7
from violence, was returned by Coroners. The cause of death in 15
of these cases is stated to have been ascertained by post-mortem
examination. An inquest was held on the body of a nonparishioner.
Sixteen of the 18 inquests in the Parish were held
at the Coroner's Court at the Town Hall, and 2 at the St.
Marylebone Infirmary, Notting Hill.
7.—Nuisance from Stable Refuse.—Several complaints of bad
smells from stable refuse have been made recently by parishioners
and others, in the vicinity of Chepstow Villas, Chepstow Place,
Walmer Road, &c. The said smells are due to the use of peat
litter, and mainly arise in the course of removal of the refuse from
the premises. I have on various occasions called the attention of
the Sanitary Committee to this subject, and the Committee have
caused communications to be addressed to the proprietors of stables
(mostly large public companies, cab proprietors, &c.) on whose
premises the nuisance arose. The use of peat litter is now general
at such establishments. The material remains in the stable for
some considerable time, and becomes more or less charged with the
products of the decomposition of animal secretions. It smells
badly enough when removed from the stable for temporary deposit
in the receptacle, where, in the heap, the process of putrefaction
goes on with accelerated speed, the result being that when the
refuse is turned over in the course of transfer to the vehicle in which
it is to be removed from the premises, offensive gases of a nauseous
and penetrating character are given off, to the annoyance of people in
the vicinity of the premises, and of all who come near the vehicle in
its transit through the streets. I am of opinion that steps should be
taken to abate the nuisance on complaint, and to prohibit the recurrence
thereof. The County Council's bye-law dealing with the
"cleansing of receptacles for dung," requires the owner of any such
receptacle, once at least in every week, to cause every such receptacle
to be emptied and thoroughly cleansed. But section 36 (2) of the
Public Health (London) Act provides that—