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recorded in the Inspector of Nuisances' book: but in
addition to these, a very large number of visits and sanitary
investigations have been made by the Medical Officers of
Health and the Surveyor, to which latter gentleman the
Medical Officers beg to tender their best thanks for the
ready and able assistance he has at all times accorded to
them.
The details of the ordinary sanitary operations will
be found in the Tables included in the Reports of the
several Sub-districts of the parish.
The mode of conducting the business of manufacturers
of Sulphate of Ammonia from the Ammoniacal
liquor of the Gas Works, at the Chemical Works of
Messrs. H. Wallace and Co., in the New Road, Battersea,
has been the source of great anxiety to the Medical
Officers during the last three years. The manufacture
mentioned involves the liberation of large volumes of
Sulphuretted Hydrogen, a poisonous and most offensive
gas, which can probably be effectually dealt with on a
small scale; but in the present case, either from defective
plant, excessive manufacture of Ammonia Sulphate in
proportion to the capacity of the apparatus employed, or
want of proper care on the part of those engaged, a
nuisance of a very grave character existed; and in spite of
all the efforts which the proprietors asserted were made
by them in devising fresh adaptations and methods of
manufacture, became, as the production increased, more
and more offensive and dangerous to the public health
and comfort. During the earlier period of the existence
of the manufacture, the ammoniacal liquor of the one gas
company only was used; but when the same product
from a second company was added, between 40,000 and
50,000 gallons of ammoniacal liquor was used per day, with
the result to the residents in the locality of great suffering
and discomfort.
In addition, very numerous complaints were received
form persons resident in Clapham, Lambeth, and other