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105
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
of the medical men practising in the district, or from my own
experience in previous years of practice in the neighbourhood, that
such effluvia were directly injurious to the health of the inhabitants
of the houses in the locality affected.
The premises are being kept under constant observation and
if any infringement of the By-laws are observed the matter will be
forthwith reported to the Public Health Committee of the Council.
With reference to the smells from the sewers, this has been
to some extent abated by the closing of the ventilators, and by the
construction of a Reeves' apparatus. No action can be taken by
this Council with reference to the discharge of noxious material into
the sewer, but such action can and probably will be taken by the
London County Council.
(5). Numerous complaints having been received from the occupiers
of premises in the vicinity of the works occupied by Messrs.
Levy Bros. & Knowles, with respect to an accumulation of
refuse in a state of combustion, special inspections were made
of the premises. The accumulation was caused by the
depositing of refuse from the manufacture of sugar on a
piece of land between the Causeway and the River Wandle.
This accumulation has been in existence for some years, but
it was not a nuisance until it took fire and produced a
considerable quantity of smoke and steam, the smell from
which was decidedly offensive. A summons was issued and
after hearing the defendants were fined. The nuisance to
some extent still continues, although a considerable quantity
of the accumulation has been removed, but the premises are
under constant observation.
(6). Brickfields and ditches at South Streatham, near Lonesome.
Special inspections were made on several occasions of the
whole of this area which is situated at the extreme boundary
of Streatham, owing to complaints of smell from the brickfield,
and also owing to complaints from persons in the vicinity of
smell from the offensive ditch which forms the boundary
between this Borough and the Croydon Rural District. The
ditch was cleared out and that part in Greyhound Lane leading
to the River Graveney was piped and covered in.