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115
It is lamentable to reflect on the prolonged labour bestowed
upon this vexed question by earnest minded men with,
on the whole, such poor results; and that such a nuisance
should, after so many years of study, and invention of proposed
means for its abolition, still exist and endanger the public
health. Your Vestry's interest in the question is not of
yesterday. It was brought to attention in 1871, the year of
my appointment as medical officer of health; and, in consequence
of many complaints, a special committee was directed
"to consider the matter and, if possible, devise a remedy." A
deputation from this committee waited upon Mr. (afterwards
Sir Joseph) Bazalgette, Engineer to the Metropolitan Board of
Works, with whom the subject was fully considered, and by
whom was "explained what had been done to abate the
annoyance in the sewers under the control of the Board." As
stated in my annual report for 1871 (page 24), your Vestry's
committee "came reluctantly to the conclusion that no effectual
method of dealing with this difficulty had as yet been discovered,"
and thereupon they suspended their labours. The
report went on to state that "charcoal filters had been applied
in localities whence complaints came, and in these instances
no further complaint had arisen." But the conclusion arrived
at, neutralising this apparent success— "notwithstanding the
admitted power of charcoal to deodorize offensive gases"—
was that the "success" of the apparatus in question was due
rather to its obstructing the ventilators, and preventing the
escape of foul air, than to any real and effectual ventilation
with deodorization. The public (it was added)" occasionally,
had taken the matter into their own hands and stopped up the
offending apertures," a course which was described as one to
be regretted, for the reason that "it is better to have a stench
here and there in the roadway, than the escape of sewer gas
into houses"; for, as pointed out, "sewers must be ventilated,
and if ventilation is not provided for artificially, the resistance
of almost any drain-trap will be overcome by the pressure of