View report page

35
little use except to purify the air, and perhaps assist in preventing
the increase of infectious matter, as bacteria will
multiply only, or at any rate chiefly, in a suitable soil. The
infectious material or organism of small-pox, scarlet fever, &c.,
has not yet been isolated, so we can only reason from analogy
and experience as to the agents which prevent or modify their
spread, activity, and growth. In consequence of disinfectants
being given away for these purposes a considerable number of
infectious diseases come to my knowledge, of which I should
not have otherwise any information.
Fairs.—A good deal of trouble has been given to myself
and the Chief Sanitary Inspector by persons bringing vans to
vacant pieces of ground in the district, and in some instances
by setting up a kind of fair. As far as possible action was
taken by communicating with the freeholder and renters of
the ground, and by visiting the tents and vans, and serving
notice of overcrowding on the proprietor of the van, in accordance
with the Act passed in 1885. In this way several of the
vans were moved, but in other instances lodgings were obtained,
and the overcrowding abated. Notices were also served for
removing accumulations of filth, filling up holes, &c., so as to
remove nuisances ; but when all was done, the annoyance from
the congregation of unruly children, and noisy adults, continued
for some time; indeed, in one or two cases, until the Overseers
took action for their removal not only in Ilackney but in Stoke
Newington.
In addition to my other work I have attended 25 ordinary
meetings of the Sanitary Committee, and obtained 571 different
orders for the removal of nuisances, which included a very much
larger number of premises and nuisances. Also 7 meetings of
the Yiew Committee for inspecting cow-sheds and slaughterhouses,
and attending at the Sessions in reference thereto ; and
also 3 other meetings of Sub-Committees, besides those in
connection with the proposed new Mortuary.