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141
STABLE REFUSE.
In former reports I had to note the frequency of complaints
of effluvium nuisance arising in the storage, and, much more,
in the removal of stable refuse from pits underground. Thanks
to the operation of the County Council's bye-law, which has
been carried out effectually in this parish, complaints in respect
of private premises are now few in number; and as the cause
for complaint, the sunken dung-pit, is now almost a thing of
the past, we may reasonably hope to have less cause for annoyance
on this score in the future. This subject was fully dealt
with in my annual report for 1894 (pp. 184-189), to which I
would refer anyone desirous of knowing what a serious difficulty
the question involved, until we were able to abolish, to a large
extent, the brick receptacle, whether above or below ground,
and to substitute therefor the iron cage now so familiar an
object in the mews in this parish, not far short of two hundred
in number.

Sunken pits were allowed to remain in certain instances
simply because, owing to the construction of the stable
premises—the entire frontage being occupied by doors—it was
impracticable to provide any other form of receptacle. In
each such case the pit was reconstructed to a reduced depth (the
sides and floor being cemented) and drained to the sewer.