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Vestry, two such Inspectors were appointed, one an army veterinary surgeon on
furlough from India, and another gentleman who had passed through a medical
education. I found them very efficient. They were in constant communication with
the Privy Council Inspector, and informed him wherever cases of plague broke out.
They looked personally to the disinfection of sheds, dung, litter, &c. Towards the
close of August, all your Inspectors received authority from the Local Magistrates
to act as Inspectors under the Orders of the Privy Council: it was thought that in
this way the hands of the local sanitary authorities would be strengthened. On
October the 9th, Belle Isle had become so objectionable, and the practices there in
the disposal of beasts so loose, that the Vestry saw proper to appoint an
additional Inspector to watch proceedings there, and Mr. Godbold was constant in
visiting the knackeries, superintending disinfection, &c. every day, and frequently
also at night. On several occasions he was successful in arresting diseased oarcases
of sheep, which were being removed for human consumption. When the year drew
to a close it was thought unnecessary, from the changes which had been made in the
orders issued by the Privy Council, to continue the services of these Inspectors any
longer. That some such aotion as the Vestry took was necessary at the time, was
shown by the fact that I had myself directed, just previously, tho seizure of 11
Dutch cows suffering from cattle plague, which I saw standing and awaiting
slaughter in the pound attached to one of the ordinary slaughter-houses in the
Metropolitan Cattle Market. Two large seizures of beef had also been made, one of
33 quarters, and the other of 32 quarters, on the premises of a salesman at Belle
Isle; some of the beef had been salted, and the whole was destined as we afterwards
discovered to conversion into German sausages.
SANITARY WORK OF THE YEAR.
Part of the work that has been done is mentioned in my remarks upon the
Cattle Plague. Table V. shows that which relates to the house improvements
carried into effect. At the time that the cattle Inspectors were appointed, two
additional Inspectors were temporarily placed under my direction, in order to hasten
on the house-to-house visitations, which were necessary in order to prepare for tho
threatened invasion of cholera in the coming summer. The work before them
was enough for a twelve month, and we did not begin it a day too soon. It was
important that all drainage improvoments should be executed in the winter, and I
confess to having felt disappointment when the Vestry declined to sanction the
continuance of the services of the Special Inspectors beyond the close of the
year. There was then a considerable amount of work ordered to be done, and
notices to that effect had been served, but it bscame impossible to proceed, except
in one or two very flagrant instances; while half of the districts which it remained
to inspect and improve were left to be visited, as opportunity occurred, by your
ordinary staff* Much improvement has been effected in the Irish Courts. Rose and
Crown Court, what with the amendments in the houses, in the character of the tenants
* Since this was written, the Vestry has appointed two additional Inspectors, whom I have employed upon
the work thus left incomplete.