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The nuisance has increased and has now reached a pitch which amounts to a gross
scandal, and this in spite of protests made in the past.
During the whole of every week-day dust-carts are unloaded into trucks.
With the wind in any northerly direction this means that all the dust from refuse
is blown straight into the Infirmary wards, while paper, &c., is strewn in the grounds.
The trucks are overladen, which makes it worse.
With more or less delay, a tarpaulin is fixed over them when full, and some time
during the night they are removed. They may be left half full and quite uncovered
over the whole of Sunday.
I submit that it is absolutely improper to carry out this insanitary work in
the immediate neighbourhood of an Infirmary, or indeed of dwelling houses at all.
The siding itself is in a disgraceful state, with heaps of refuse lying and breeding
disease, while trucks overloaded with manure are frequently kept standing on it
for many hours, poisoning the whole neighbourhood.
I have no doubt at all that outbreaks of diarrhæa which have occurred in the
summer among the infants in the Infirmary, and, from what I have heard, in the
neighbourhood also, result from this nuisance, for which the local sanitary authority
who authorise it and the railway company who allow it on the premises are responsible.
The matter was dealt with both by the Public Health and
Works and General Purposes Committees of the Council, both of
whom surveyed the railway siding.
Further reports from the Medical Superintendent were sent to
the Borough Council by the Visiting Committee of St. Saviour's
Infirmary:—
June 9th. —"With reference to the nuisance arising from dust-bin refuse on
the railway siding, I have to report that during last week the refuse has been
handled in, if anything, a more scandalous and wicked manner than ever, and
since Friday last a large pile of refuse has been standing on the siding with paper
and foul dust from it blowing into the Infirmary grounds."
July 28th.—"I have to report that six cases of infantile diarrhæa have
developed during last week, and that two of the babies are dangerously ill.
I ascribe the outbreak entirely to the poisoning of the children by the refuse
on the siding. The wind has been normal during the week, and the old method of
dealing with the refuse has been as before, except that the farce of hanging the
canvas over the Infirmary side of the trucks has been continued."
August 11th.—"With reference to the nuisance on the adjoining siding, I have
to report that there has been no abatement.
Northerly winds have been prevalent, and all through the holidays the smell
of refuse and manure has been most objectionable.
In addition, since my last report there have been eight more cases of infective
enteritis among the children in the Infirmary, and I regret to say there have been
two deaths.
The responsibility for these deaths lies at the door of the Borough Council."
August 18th.—"I have to report four more cases of infective enteritis, making
eighteen in all, and two more deaths. One of these was the child named Olive
Marsh, who was found wrapped in brown paper in the street in March. This child
died on Saturday, and as the exposure had something to do with the death, although
the immediate cause was enteritis, I informed the Coroner, who held the inquest
this morning. A verdict of gastro-enteritis was returned. I informed the Coroner
and jury that the death was avoidable, and was due, in my opinion, to poisoning
by dust-bin refuse."
The following report, presented by Dr. Bruce to the Southwark
Board of Guardians, appeared in the "Camberwell and Peckham
Times," dated October 22nd:—
Dear Sir, —I beg to bring to your notice the nuisance occasioned by the large
rubbish heaps which are kept between the boundary walls of the Infirmary and the
railway line. When the wind is in a favourable quarter most offensive smells are
blown towards the wards. Under the same condition foul black smoke envelopes