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109
The question as to fumes from the Potteries of Messrs.
Stiff and Doulton being a nuisance and injurious to health
has been raised during the past year by Earl Stanhope, one
of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, who states that the
fumes are destroying the exterior of Lambeth Palace, which
is situated close to the Potteries. The fumes (such as they
are) arise from the salt-glazing, but the best-known means
for preventing or minimising the Nuisance from such
manufacturing processes are undoubtedly adopted. Further,
the Medical Officer of Lambeth has no reason for supposing
that the fumes are injurious to the health of the
inhabitants of that particular part of Lambeth.
Two important effluvium nuisances in connection with
petroleum engines were dealt with by the Vestry during the
year under Section 21 of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891—a Section which makes it compulsory upon a
Sanitary Authority to take action on receipt of a complaint
of nuisance from effluvia arising in any manufactory,
building, or premises used for any trade, process, or manufacture
causing effluvia and signed by more than ten
inhabitants of the neighbourhood. In the one case (100,
Westminster Bridge Road), the nuisance was effectually
abated by the petroleum engine being replaced by a gas
engine, and the Magistrate consequently inflicted no
penalty, but ordered the summons to be withdrawn, the
defendant paying the costs. In the other case (251,
Clapham Road), the nuisance was effectually abated by
intercepting the fumes and treating them in a kind of
scrubber or purifier containing chemicals and asbestos, so
that no action had to be taken by the Vestry before the
Magistrate.