View report page

63
Dr. Young's detailed report upon the subject, and we point out that in the opinion of the Council the
statutory provision neglected by the vestry is section 1 of the Act, which is as follows—
" It shall be the duty of every sanitary authority to cause to be made from time to time inspec"
tion of their district, with a view to ascertain what nuisances exist calling for abatement under
" the powers of this Act, and to enforce the provisions of this Act for the purpose of abating the
" same, and otherwise to put in force the powers vested in them relating to public health and local
" government, so as to secure the proper sanitary condition of all premises within their district."
We also slate that the Council considers that the conditions found to exist are nuisances within the
meaning of section 2, sub-section 1 (a) and (6).
In answer to the Board's inquiry as to whether the complaint in these cases cannot be remedied
under the provisions of section 100 of the Act, we point out that the default of the vestry relates to so
large a number of cases that it does not appear to be contemplated and would not be met by action
under section 100, and that what seems to be required is that the vestry should systematically carry
out the provisions of section 1. As however, the insanitary condition of the district arises mainly from
the deficiency in the sanitary staff we inform the Board that in the opinion of the Council an inquiry
under section 107 might render it unnecessary to proceed further in respect of the representation under
section 101.
We report the course taken for the information of the Council.
Later, on the 18th July, the Committee presented the following report, stating that the Local
Government Board had instructed its medical inspector, Dr. Theodore Thomson, to hold an inquiry—
On the 21st of February last we reported to the Council upon the insanitary conditions found on a
recent inspection of the parish of Rotherhithe, and the Council resolved that complaint should be made
to the Local Government Board, under section 101 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, that the
Yestry of Rotherhithe had made default in carrying out the provisions of the Act in their district. It
was also decided to represent to the Local Government Board, under section 107 (2) of the Act, that the
vestry had failed to appoint a sufficient number of sanitary inspectors.
We subsequently informed the Board, in reply to a letter upon the subject, that in the opinion of
the Council an inquiry under section 107 might render it unnecessary to proceed further in respect of
the representation under section 101.
The Board, on the 6th June, forwarded to the Council a copy of a letter from the vestry, stating that
they had appointed two temporary assistant sanitary inspectors at a salary of £3 a week each, and
intimated that before directing an inquiry with reference to the Council's representation under section
107 of the Act, the Board would be glad to receive any observations which the Council might desire to
make on the vestry's letter.
We informed the Board in reply that the Council would prefer to reserve any further expression of
opinion as to the sufficiency of the sanitary staff until the inquiry asked for by the Council had taken
place.
We now report for the information of the Council that the Board has instructed its medical inspector,
Dr. Theodore Thomson, to hold this inquiry.
St. Saviour, Southivark.—During 1893 I was engaged on behalf of the Council in a special
inquiry into the sanitary condition and administration of the district of St. Saviour, Southwark, the
Mansion House Council on the Dwellings of the Poor, having represented to the Council that the
sanitary authority had made default in the performance of its duty. A report was accordingly presented
to the Public Health Committee, which is appended. (See Appendix IV.) The conclusions
arrived at were thus stated—
1 am satisfied that the representations of the Mansion House Council as to the conditions of houses
in the district were substantially accurate, and that these conditions had grown up as a result of the
insufficiency of the staff. The sanitary authority had, before my inspection began, endeavoured to
remedy the defects, and in this work they had been materially aided by the appointment of the second
sanitary inspector in the early part of last year, practically doubling their staff. The work of improvement
which has been done deserves recognition on account of its thoroughness. I am, however, of
opinion that two inspectors are insufficient, especially in view of the necessity of a systematic inspection
of workshops, and in view of the duties which must devolve upon the staff in connection with the
regulation of houses let in lodgings.
There is need for the sanitary authority to provide a proper mortuary.
The present disinfecting oven should be replaced by one in which the disinfection is effected by
steam.
The Destruction of Refuse.
The Public Health (London) Act, section 22 (2), having constituted the Council a sanitary
authority for the purposes of the Act with respect to any nuisance arising on premises used by a
sanitary authority for the treatment or disposal of any street or house refuse, the Public Health Committee
instructed the engineer and myself "to make a thorough inquiry into the whole subject of dust
destructors." For this purpose Mr. Santo Crimp and Dr. W. H. Hamer visited Birmingham, Liverpool,
Manchester, Oldham, Bradford, and Leeds, and some of the depots in London where destructors are in
use, and a report was presented to the Committee. This report was published, and it is not therefore
necessary to discuss the subject at length here ; it will suffice to say that the destructors at Oldham and
Kidacre-street, Leeds, appeared to be most deserving of commendation, especially for the reason that
the outlets for the products of combustion are placed at the end opposite to that at which the material
to be burnt is introduced, and consequently those products have to pass over the hottest part of the
furnace.
The conclusions arrived at were that as regards the best available means of preventing nuisance
from destructors, the following points demand special attention. The temperature attained should be
sufficiently high; the duration of exposure to a high temperature should be sufficiently long; all the
vapour escaping from the refuse should be heated to a sufficient extent, and there should be no
possibility of the escape of any undecomposed vapours into the chimney-shaft. Provided the appliance
was intelligently and carefully worked, it appeared that the destruction of refuse by fire might be
effected with success and without the production of nuisance.
Food.
The majority of the reports of the medical officers of health contain accounts of articles of food
seized by them or the sanitary inspectors on account of its unwholesome condition, and in numerous