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55
REMOVAL OF HUMAN REMAINS.
St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside.
An application was made by the Rector and Churchwardens for the removal
of the bodies from the crypt of this church.
The church and crypt were visited frequently, but at none of these visits
was any actual nuisance detected, though on general principles the removal is
advisable.
The number of bodies is estimated to be about 700.
IRON DRAINS.
With reference to the paragraph in my report for the year 1906 respecting
the use of iron pipes in the reconstruction of drains in the City, the owners of
property are now more fully recognising the great advantages of iron over
stoneware, inasmuch as it is at this date the rule rather than the exception to
relay drains in iron.
The experience of my department goes to prove that the slightly increased
cost is more than justified by the additional soundness and efficiency.
HOUSES INFESTED WITH VERMIN.
Four cases occurred where rooms in tenement houses were found to be
infested with vermin. Upon the owners' attention being directed to the powers
conferred upon the Corporation by 4 Ed. 7, cap. 244, sec. 20, they at once
carried out the necessary disinfection and cleansing. The section referred to
enacts that upon receipt of a certificate from the Medical Officer of Health,
a Sanitary Authority is empowered to give notice in writing to the owner
or occupier of verminous premises requiring him within a certain time, to be
specified on the Notice, to cleanse the house, and if so required to remove the
paper from the walls, and take such other steps for the destruction and
removal of vermin as the case may require. Failing compliance with such
Notice, the Sanitary Authority may do the work required themselves, and
recover the expense as a civil debt from the person making the default.
NUISANCE FROM WASHINGS FROM GAS PRODUCER PLANT.
Of recent years the use of producer gas in the City for motive purposes
has considerably extended, but this form of power is not without some
disadvantage, as shown by several complaints of nuisance from gas washings
inseparable from the process unless properly treated.