View report page

46
proceeding from the Gaslight and Coke Company's works at Kensal-green. Dr. Dudfield describes very
fully the processes adopted on these premises, and shows that the effluvium complained of mainly
proceeds from the purifying chamber during the breaking up and removal of the spent lime to the
discharging openings, comparatively little smell arising from the operation of removal to the boats.
"It is contended," Dr. Dudfield says, " that it is impossible to empty the purifying chamber of
spent lime without causing smell arising from the disturbance of the lime and the escape of gas
containing sulphuretted hydrogren. It was this smell, escaping through the open spaces (window
openings without windows) at the side of No. 2 purifier house, for No. 1 house was not in use at the
time, which was the cause of complaint. It is not denied that, in addition to the evil smell evolved in
connection with the emptying of the lime chambers, there is more or less effluvium at the works
generally, such as is common to all such works, and arising from small escapes of gas here and there.
Such escapes are stated to be unavoidable."
With a view to the prevention of nuisance, Dr. Dudfield, on October 8th, advised the engineer
to close with sacking, or other suitable material, the window openings on the south side of the No. 2
purifier house looking towards Kensington, and he states, "I was glad to find on the occasion of my
second visit, on October 29th, that not only had this been done, but that, with a view to diffusing the
effluvia from the lime chambers on the first floor, 16 shafts had been constructed to convey the said
effluvia from the first floor to the top floor, a room, 412 by 97 feet, wherein the lime is slacked, and the
peroxide of iron is both stored and revivified after use. This vast chamber has glazed windows at the
sides, and is fitted with louvred ventilators throughout the entire length of either side of the pitch of
the roof, so that any gases drawn into the space would escape gradually and at a considerable height—
conditions which must tend to minimise the risk of nuisance." Dr. Dudfield adds that since this matter
was before the Sanitary Committee in October he has received few complaints.
Hammersmith.—The medical officer of health discusses the action of the Kensington vestry in
proceeding against the brickmakers in Wood-lane, and states that nuisance to the inhabitants of
Hammersmith had not resulted from this cause. Among the complaints as to nuisances which he
investigated during the year were offensive odours from malting works and from the works of an
electric accumulator company.
Shoreditch.—The report of the medical officer of health states that effluvium nuisance was
experienced from premises in which the business of a fat melter was carried on. This business
cannot be established anew in London without the sanction of the London County Council; and in
this case such sanction had not been obtained. Application was subsequently made to the Council by
the proprietor for leave to establish this business. The vestry of Hackney opposed the application on
the ground that the locality was not a fit and proper one for this business to be carried on, and the
sanction of the Council was refused.
Poplar.—The reports of the medical officers of health of Poplar and Bow parishes contain a
tabular statement giving a summary of improvements effected in trade premises as the result of
inspection by Mr. C. W. Raymond, inspector of nuisances in manufactories and workshops. In Poplar
the following nuisances were thus dealt with:—nuisance caused by scraping and drying fish skins;
nuisance discontinued. Nuisance caused by boiling indiarubber clippings; the operation is now carried
on in a closed vessel. Artificial manure works; escape of noxious vapours from mixer; apparatus has
been repaired. Fat melters, nuisance caused by boiling refuse fat in open vessels; the process has
been discontinued. Lead works; escape of lead fumes from main shaft; the work is stopped for the
present. Oil burning; furnace defective; the furnace has been repaired. Chemical works; escape
of acid vapours; the condensing apparatus has been repaired. Dust destructor; offensive vapours
and dust discharged in the atmosphere; extra precautions taken to prevent dust, &c., escaping. Fish
curing; defective wooden smoke hole; smoke hole pulled down. Bone glue; vapour allowed to
escape; extra condensing power has been provided. Oil and tar refuse discharged into sewer; the
refuse is now sent away in casks. In Bow the following nuisances were dealt with:—Condensers of
tar works defective; condensers have been repaired. Nuisance caused by boiling whalebone; process
has been discontinued. Nuisance caused by blacks escaping from defective flues of lamp black works;
the flues have been repaired. Nuisance caused by cork burning; roof of building has been repaired
and a new chimney fitted. Nuisance caused by evaporating glycerine in open pans in glycerine works;
the building in which this operation is carried on has been repaired. Nuisance caused by burning
cocoanut fibre refuse in fibre works; the burning of the refuse has been discontinued. Nuisance from
defective fat-boiling coppers in fat-melting works; the coppers have been repaired. Chemical refuse ;
bone oil refuse discharged into sewer; discharge discontinued. Printing ink works ; vapours from
boiled oil pots allowed to escape unburnt; the furnace for consuming the vapours has been repaired.
Sulphuretted hydrogen from sulphate of ammonia works allowed to escape into atmosphere; defective
pipes and condensers repaired.
The following statement relating to nuisance in glycerine works is made by the medical officer
of health of Bow, who thus refers to Mr. Raymond's report on this subject—
"Among the many processes carried on by the firm (Messrs. Cook, East London Soap Works) is
that of extracting glycerine from the soap liquors. The plan adopted is by means of evaporation in open
pans. The first part is carried on in a set of pans heated by fire, where the liquors are concentrated up
to a certain point, the salt which is deposited being fished out. This plant is merely covered by an iron
roof, the sides and ends being open, so that all the vapours escape into tbe atmosphere. The steam
evaporation is carried on in an enclosed shed, which at the time of inspection was very much out of
repair. In this shed the liquors are neutralized with hydrochloric acid for the purpose of taking up
any excess of alkali that may be present in the liquor. At times the vapours given off are of a pungent
nature. This, in his (Mr. Raymond's) opinion, arises when the above process is in operation. After this
treatment the liquor is further evaporated in steam pans, the vapours being allowed to escape as before,
and more salt extracted therefrom, the final product being a concentrated solution containing 80 per
cent. glycerine, 10 per cent. water, and 10 percent. salt. Mr. Cook, in the course of conversation, stated
the plant used by them was generally adopted throughout the soap trade. The main question to be