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I have no hesitation in saying, that such a business as this should not be permitted to be
carried on in the neighbourhood of inhabited houses at all. I think it may be maintained
that this business is now carried on contrary to law. * It has only recently been brought
into the Parish, having been removed from Cow-Cross at the time of the Clerkenwell
improvements.
34. V.—Gut-Scraping for the preparation of sausage skins is another most disgusting
business carried on at Belle Isle. The nuisance principally arises from the delay used, and
the putrefaction of the intestines and their contents, before the operation of cleaning is
commenced. It appears, from inquiries I have made into this subject, that this putrefaction
is not necessary, but that it is allowed to take place because it facilitates the scraping. This
trade ought to be completely forbidden at Belle Isle on account of the want of proper
drainage there. I know nothing that can be compared to the horribly fætid odour which
I have perceived to proceed from one of these scraping-houses, the proprietor of which
I was compelled to summon.
35. VI.—Piggeries.—There appears little question, that under proper regulations as to the
construction and size of the styes or houses which they occupy, a good system of drainage,
scrupulous attention to cleanliness, and a proper system of feeding, it is possible that pigs
may be so kept that, in an open locality, they may produce a minimum of nuisance f. But
at Belle Isle, where there were last year six piggeries, with a number of animals, varying
from twenty to above a hundred in each, none of these conditions are present, or appear
capable of being maintained. The two principal objections lie in the absence of any proper
or efficient drainage, and in the nature of the food on which the pigs are kept, and which,
consisting mainly of 'tavern-wash,' often in a sour and fermenting condition, is prepared for
consumption by boiling: the odour proceding from the open boilers is sometimes most
sickening. It is often a long time before pigs brought from the country will eat the food
presented to them at Belle Isle. Two of the above-mentioned piggeries have been removed,
but the largest establishments yet remain. An attempt was made by your Sanitary
Committee to dislodge them under the 109th Section of the Local Act for Islington; but
some technical difficulties which were raised have hitherto prevented the accomplishment of
this most desirable clearance.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your very obedient Servant,
EDWARD BALLARD. M.D.
42, Myddelton Square, Medical Officer of Health.
March 16th, 1857.
* The 7 & 8 Vict. Cap. 81, Sect. 55, which is specially exempted from repeal (18 & 19 Vict. Cap. 122,
Sec. 109), after enumerating several offensive and noxious businesses, provides, "That it shall not be lawful for
any person to establish or newly carry on any such business, either in any building or vault, or in the open air,
at a less distance than 40 feet from any public way, or than 50 feet from any other buildings of the first or
dwelling-house class." There are other offensive businesses carried on in the Parish which might be removed
under this Statute.
† There appear some reasons to believe, however, that this is not all that is necessary to insure the
wholesomeness of the flesh for food.—See a Paper by Dr. Fleming, on the " Heasle" of the Pig, &c.—Dublin
Quarterly Journal of Medicine, February, 1857, p. 100.