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174
I further observed that it was "open to consideration
whether the duty of removing all offensive substances, should
not be devolved upon the sanitary authority, at the reasonable
cost of the producer thereof."
The annual report for 1887 (p, 182) contains references
to the previous history of the subject, particularly to a
special report on "Filth Removal," (July 24th, 1878), arising
out of complaints with regard to the conveyance of offensive
matter through the streets in the day time.* The subject
was further dealt with in 1880, (Annual Report, p. 113), in
connection with "the difficulty experienced in preventing
nuisance from accumulations of offensive matter, coming
under the general description, "Refuse"; a difficulty, stated to
be "common to all parts of the metropolis, and calling for
legislative interference for its abatement." At my instance,
the Society of Medical Officers of Health, in that same year,
appointed a committee to consider and report—
"On the best and most convenient ways of dealing with animal and vegetable
trade refuse, e.g., from slaughter-houses, fishmongers' and greengrocers'
shops, etc., with a view to its collection, removal, and ultimate
disposal, whether by utilization or destruction."
Subsequently, the reference was enlarged by the inclusion of
house refuse, stable refuse and cowshed refuse. In due course
the committee, over which I presided, presented a report which
was adopted by the society, and will be found in my annual
report for 1880 (p. 114). With regard to the refuse of slaughterhouses,
and the refuse of the trades of fishmonger, poulterer,
greengrocer, &c., being of animal or vegetable origin and
liable to decomposition, the society was of opinion that—
*The report was referred to the law and parliamentary committee, with a
view to the making of a "bye-law regulating the time for the removal of offensive
matter through the streets," under the powers conferred by Section 219 of the
Kensington Improvement Act. The question, however, dropped out of sight, and
the bye-laws adopted by the Vestry in July, 1882, contain no reference to it.