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In the construction and repair of drains, 2182 feet of piping has been
used : 1734 feet of which were laid under the supervision of Mr. Rouch, and
448 feet under that of Mr. Hartley.
The market places are frequently visited, and 128 seizures were made of stale
and unsound fish, fruit, vegetables, and other articles of food exposed for sale,
amongst which may be enumerated:—30 pads, 7½ barrels, 6 kits, 3¼rounds,
1 flat, 1 turn, and 1 box, of plaice; 25 boxes, 5 barrels, 13 pads, 1 parcel,
and kit, of dried herrings; 3 boxes of mixed fish, 2 pads, and 1 barrel of
haddocks; 27 pads, 1 barrel, 2 molloys, 4 boxes, and 1 trunk of mackerel;
24 trunks, and 2 pairs of soles; 1 bag of mussels; 1 basket of lobsters;
2 barrels, 1 hamper, and 1 basket of crabs; 2 crates, and 10 dozen of
cauliflowers; 1½ sieve of mushrooms; 11 boxes of oranges; 28 baskets of
cherries; 1 sieve of strawberries; 7 sieves of currants; 1 sieve of plums;
4 baskets of grapes; 1½ bushel of pears; and half a bushel of walnuts.
Independently of market visitations, the Inspectors, it is estimated,
make 8000 visits annually to bake-houses, cow-houses, slaughter-houses,
mews, yards, courts, &c., and this estimate does not include numerous visits
to premises against which complaints are lodged at the office, and of these
complaints made by the public, there were 890 during the year.
REPORT ON THE SUPPLY OF GAS.
The average illuminating power of the gas supplied by the Imperial
Gas Light and Coke Company, was 14.3 standard sperm candles. The
mean of the monthly maximum results was 15.5, and the mean of the
monthly minimum results 13.3 candles. The highest illuminating power
observed was 16.8, and the lowest 11.7 candles. An illuminating power of
12 standard sperm candles was prescribed by the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860;
and on only one occasion did the illuminating power fall below the statutory
limitation.
Of impurities, ammonia was nearly always present, whilst sulphuretted
hydrogen was invariably absent; whilst the sulphur present in all forms
varied from 8.17 to 24.5 grains per 100 cubic feet; 20 grains per 100 cubic
feet being the legal maximum permitted.
(Signed) THOMAS STEVENSON,
April 14th, 1870. Medical Officer of Health.