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sickness which has prevailed generally throughout the parish.
This estimate, although approximate only, cannot err by
exaggeration, and is made by accepting the proportion
which the deaths bear to cases of sickness that prevailed
amongst the parochial poor (and which is accurately recorded)
as the proportion borne by the deaths to the cases of sickness
amongst all classes of the inhabitants. So calculated, the
total amount of sickness which prevailed generally may be
assumed to have affected not less than 40 per cent, of the
population, or about 5 per cent, less than the decennial
average.
Sanitary Proceedings.—Removal of Nuisances, &c.—
In Table 6, Appendix, will be found the usual summary of
the general sanitary operations which have been conducted
during the year. In the removal and prevention of the
recurrence of 4 nuisances it became necessary to obtain a
prohibitory order from the presiding magistrate. Two of
these were of considerable magnitude, arising in the carrying
on of noxious trades. One was the huge piggery of Mr.
Butterfield, situated in the Merton Road fields, and having a
plant and appliances for 200 pigs under one roof. There
was no proper drainage, and, on account of the level of the
ground in relation to the river, no means of making any;
eventually, the owner abandoned the undertaking. The
other was the fat-boiling business of Mr. Harvey, at Groton
Road, Dunsford Hill, in which fat was extracted, by boiling
in an open copper, from animal refuse—principally Australian
preserved meats which had become putrid and unfit for
food. In addition to the proceedings enumerated in the
Table, all the Cow-houses, 18 in number, and the Slaughterhouses,
10 in number, were examined and reported on prior
to a renewal of their owners' licenses. No need arose for
opposing the granting of the latter in any instance.
In order to obtain more practical results from the
information derivable from the returns of the RegistrarGeneral
in regard to the localization of disease and the consequent
projection of sanitary measures for its prevention, I