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40
nature was brought by me under the notice of the Local
Committee and the Board:—
On a small plot of ground in Brougham Street, a
depot for lint, tow and other debris from the hospital
wards of the metropolis was discovered. These materials
were saturated with human blood, pus, and other animal
discharges of an offensive character, smelling most
abominably, and dangerous to health from the character
of the deposit.
It was found that the lint was washed, prepared, and
sold again, and, still more horrible, the tow was washed
and made into ordinary twine in a contiguous railway
arch.
Considerable difficulty was found in suppressing this
disgusting trade, which was at last only effected by putting
strong pressure on the officials of the several hospitals to
induce them to destroy these matters on their own premises
by means of fire. They are now consumed in the furnaces
of the respective hospitals instead of being mixed with
ashes and other refuse as formerly.
Of nuisances of a larger type, such as those reported
upon formerly as proceeding from factories, there is, on
the present occasion, nothing to record, the measures
taken by the Board in former years having apparently
produced a salutary effect.
No complaint has been made of the mode of conducting
any of the cow or slaughter houses during 1874, and
the owners have, on every occasion, shown the greatest
alacrity in complying with any instructions given to them
by the Board's officers.
W. H. KEMPSTER,
Medical Officer of Health
for Eastern Battersea.