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69
purpose, though at Lett's Wharf the paper and rags are also first
carefully sorted out and sold as such. The whole process is an
exceedingly offensive one and most degrading to the workpeople
employed in it, especially the women and girls, who are to be seen
standing with the refuse up to their waists, if not higher; whilst
the foul odours which are given off during the process of sorting,
and also from the heaps of refuse awaiting sorting, may, and often
do become, a nuisance to the surronding neighbourhoods. It is somewhat
difficult to understand why the while of this refuse is not
burnt, seeing that each of the depots is provided with a destructor,
and there is, consequently, no sufficient reason, apparently, for such
preliminary sorting. It is an anomaly, if not a disgrace, that the
wealthiest Corporation in the world should persist in carrying out
what his recognised by all sanitarians to be a most noxious and
d grading business; and as such business is carried out in the
Parish of Lambeth, I feel it my duty to report strongly in connection
with the matter. Clerkenwell is unfortunate in following
the City's bad example.
There is always a difficulty in proving actual injury to health
from such offensive occupations as the sorting of refuse; but there
can be no doubt as to such a trade process being dangerous to
health when one considers that the employees work half buried in
offensive, and more or less decomposing and fermenting, organic
refuse, the fumes from which surround them, and are being
breathed and re-breathed continuously; and in my opinion
representations should be made to the City Corporation and the
Clerkenwell Vestry with a view to the discontinuance of the sorting
forthwith.
Joseph Priestley,
Medical Officer of Health.
October 5th, 1903.