View report page

42
A complaint was made of noxious emanations from the
Cremator at the Dogs' Home in the Battersea Park Road,
some time after it had been in use. The original plans
were submitted to me for inspection and I had frequently
visited the premises but always failed to discover the
slightest disagreeable effluvium, greatly to my satisfaction
and I must say somewhat to my surprise.
The Committee of view visited the premises and found
no offensive odour, and enquiry revealed the fact that the
effluvium complained of had only been noticed at an early
hour in the morning and but for a short time.
Comparison of these times with the books of the
Home shewed that the Cremator was being filled with
the carcases of dogs that had been asphyxiated, and the
smell having been likened to that of burnt hair, it was
evident that the Cremator had been left open after the
animals had been placed therein. This was merely a
detail, and greater care having since been taken, no
further complaints have been received.
Complaints were also received of reported escape of
nitrous fumes from a wharf at Nine Elms where nitric
and other acids are manufactured. This comes within
the Noxious Vapours Act 1881, and the Local Government
Board was informed of the facts, with the result
that improved apparatus has greatly modified the evil.
Many houses erected but a few years since, are becoming
ruinous and unfit for habitation'; not so much from
age, as from the habits of the class of persons who now
inhabit them. In Currie Street and Ponton Road, Nine
Elms, several houses were found to have had windows,
doors and most of the woodwork destroyed and burnt by
tramps and others who took possession of them at night in