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39
Sanitary Officers. This was a factory in Bagley-street,
Culvert Road, occupied by Messrs. Harvey, Bensa, Ward
and Co., and used by them for the purpose of boiling down
animal refuse, generally in an advanced state of decomposition.
The fat obtained therefrom being disposed of to
soap or tallow makers, and the fibrous portions made into
greaves or dog biscuits, the stinking fluid refuse being let
into the sewer.
The major portion of the refuse thus boiled down was
putrid Australian Meat which had become putrescent on
the voyage, and hundreds of tins of which were opened
weekly, and the emptied, but unwashed, tins left in heaps,
giving out an abominable odour.
The effect of these offensive operations was most prejudicial
to the health of the locality, diarrhoea and vomiting
being common in the neighbouring houses, more particularly
among the women and children occupying them.
Upon August 8th a summons was made returnable at
the Wandsworth Police Court, when the foregoing facts
were laid before the Magistrate by the clerk, Mr. Corsellis,
and evidence given by the Medical Officer and Surveyor,
both of whom laid stress upon the fact that the boiling of
these offensive matters took place in the open air, being
merely covered by the roof of an open shed, and a fine with
costs was immediately inflicted.
The result was that this very objectionable manufacture
was at once abandoned, and has not since been
resumed.
The yard occupied by Mr. Covington at the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Company's Wharf, has been
frequently inspected during the year, and the contiguity of
the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company's premises
thereto been reported upon on several occasions, but, apart