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5
An effluvium of an exceedingly offensive kind having been
again detected arising from the gullies in Wood Street, Millbank
Street, and Horseferry Road, similar to that which
existed some time since, and which arose from a leakage in the
liquor main belonging to the Chartered Gas Company, I
immediately communicated with Mr. Evans, the Manager,
and I have forwarded you Mr. Evans' reply, evincing the
same desire, as heretofore, to use every endeavour to ascertain
the cause, and remedy the defect, if any is found to exist. In
order the more effectually to guard against any future accident,
a new liquor main is to be substituted for the old.
My attention has been specially directed to George Place,
Vincent Street; where, upon examination, I found the majority
of the inhabitants suffering from Low Fever—unquestionably
dependent upon overcrowding and insufficient ventilation, but
as the rooms were generally occupied by one family, I could
not interfere farther than by having the houses thoroughly
cleansed and whitewashed, and the ventilation as much
improved as the circumstances of the cases would admit of. I
am happy in being enabled to add, that these measures were
sufficient to greatly improve the condition of the occupants, and
that they have been gradually getting better; but in order to
still further improve this Court, I would strongly advise
that notice should be immediately given to the Owner of the
Slaughter-house abutting upon the East side of the Court, that
his license will be opposed upon the next occasion, in order
that proper ventilation may be afforded to the houses on that
side; and I would also further recommend that a railing should
be substituted for the wall at the South end. Upon examining
the houses in Vincent Street abutting upon this Court, I found
underground dwellings were being occupied as sleeping apartments,
contrary to the Act of Parliament, and directions were