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14
near the bridge to the outfall end continuous, and filling in
over the top of the mud, when sufficiently consolidated, an
average depth of 1 ft. 9 in. of compact clay and gravel.
Such is the general outline of the alterations to be carried
out for improving the Serpentine. I have caused an analysis
to be made of two samples of the mud, which was free from
smell; while the vegetable organic matter after drainage was
insufficient to affect the public health during its removal
into pits.
In my last Annual Report to the Yestrv, pages 14 and
15, I published a correspondence between the then First
Commissioner of Works, Lord John Manners, and myself,
in which Mr. George Russell, the Assistant-Secretary, states
that "the best means of making and keeping it—the Serpentine—pure
and safe are now under considerationbut
the specification which was strongly adhered to by Mr.
Ayrton, allowing the mud to remain and the lake to be
14 feet deep, would have rendered it impure and unsafe. It
has, however, been since determined to remove all the mud
and to fill up the gap, which takes away part of the sting;
while the House of Commons has unfortunately determined
by a large majority not to diminish the depth; so that,
while I remain your Medical Officer of Health, it may be
my painful duty to record annually several deaths which
might have been prevented.
Sanitary Improvement.
The number of cases entered and investigated by Mr.
Longland, of complaints made by the Medical Officer of
Health, the ratepayers, and himself, was 723; verbal notices
given, and orders served, 176; summonses taken out,
6; magistrates' orders, 4; orders by Committee to summon,
10; slaughter houses, 25; cowsheds, 10; marine store
dealers, 25; bakehouses, 85. The last four are frequently