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85
risk of fouling may be greatly diminished, and so that
the end of the soil pipe should be open to the air,
thus securing the ventilation of that fruitful source of
foul gases. The open character of the system of trapping
now advocated is its special recommendation, the oxygen
of the atmosphere being nature's disinfectant—constant,
and powerful—and the probability of even a breath of
offensive gas being hardly worthy of consideration. The
waste-pipes from cisterns, baths, lavatories, &c., should
never pass into the sewer or soil-pipe, or be connected
with the trap unless opening over an air chamber as
described.
During the year we have had frequent overflows from
the sewers owing to heavy rains. This subject has been
brought prominently forward during the year by the
Surveyor's reports, and the memorial to the Home
Secretary founded upon these reports. For further
remarks, I refer to the introductory portion of this Report.
Cow and Slaughter-houses, Piggeries, dc. — The
annual inspection of the cow and slaughter-houses of
the Sub-district was conducted by the surveyor and
myself. The slaughter-houses were found—thanks to the
precise regulations in force with regard to them—in good
condition. But the cow-houses were not altogether
satisfactory. With regard to two of them—one for
over-crowding and insufficient accommodation, the other
for both of these and a want of ordinary cleanliness
as well, we felt compelled to oppose the renewal
of the licenses. The justices fortunately agreed with
us, and withheld the granting of the licenses until the
improvements we suggested were promised. In both
cases most satisfactory alterations are being carried out.
In last year's report I made some special suggestions with regard
to this subject. During the past year the Vestry of
Kensington made strenuous efforts to obtain some precise