London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1877

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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80
regulations. Perhaps even of more importance to the
community than the condition of the Slaughter-house
is the condition of the place whence comes one of the
most indispensable parts of our daily food supply. The
following points require regulation with regard to the
Cow-houses:—(1). The size of the byre or byres;
(2). Their efficient ventilation; (3). Their proper drainage;
(4). Their frequent cleansing; (5). The number of animals
kept; (6). The number of men employed. But the
duty of the Sanitary Inspector should not end with
the condition of the houses themselves. The following
additional points require his attention:—(7). The
proximity of other dwellings, especially the dairy; (8).
Their cleanliness, ventilation, and drainage; (9). The
condition of the yard, paving, drainage, &c.; (10). The
keeping of other animals in or near the yard; (11). The
position of the dung-heap, if allowed at all.
In speaking of Slaughter and Cow-house regulations,
it may not be irrevelant to the subject to press the
importance of having piggeries either prohibited in
populous places, or strictly licensed and regulated.
There is no more offensive and disgusting sight or smell
than that of a piggery, to say nothing of the nondescript
character of the sties in which the animals are usually
kept, or the hideous noises with which they invade even
the silence of the night. The odour they create is one of
the most sickening conceivable, and, to delicate persons,
positively injurious. In order to gratify their filthy
appetites, the most offensive garbage is collected for their
food, which, especially in hot weather, emits noxious and
dangerous odours. It is highly desirable and necessary
that suburbs, upon whose salubrity and amenities the
greatest city in the world places such high value, should
not be made offensive and even unhealthy, that a
comparatively unimportant though lucrative trade should
exist, and be possessed of privileges denied to many less
disgusting occupations.