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73,761,668 gallons of water were used. Of these courts and alleys, 9 were flushed
six times a week, 21 five times a week, 2 four times a week, 27 three times a week,
128 twice a week, and 80 once a week.
Disinfectants were also freely applied where desirable.
The condition of the approaches to Billingsgate Market and the Custom House, as
heretofore, required special attention. There has always been a difficulty in keeping
the thoroughfares in the immediate vicinity of these places free from the nuisance
caused by the drippings from the fish carts, especially during hot weather.
LIMEWASHING OF COURTS.
There are 96 courts and narrow passages situated in various parts of the City, the
walls of which, unless cleansed regularly, become dirty and unsightly through the
constant traffic of passengers or vehicles, together with the action of the smoke-laden
atmosphere. These are cleansed or limewashed twice a year under the direction of the
City Engineer. Of the places so dealt with during 1911, 24 were situated in the East
District, 39 in the Middle District, and 33 in the West District.
REMOVAL OF FISH OFFAL.
The contract with Messrs. F. S. Hempleman and Co., for the removal of fish offal,
expired on the 21st May, 1910, and on the recommendation of the City Engineer and
your Medical Officer of Health, was renewed for a further period of 12 months.
The conditions of the contract, which was originally entered into in May, 1906,
and has since that date been in continual operation, require that the Contractor shall
collect and remove, free of charge, between the hours of 7 p.m. and 9 a.m., all fish offal
from the Corporation Markets and Fishmongers' premises in the City, to the entire
satisfaction of the Medical Officer of Health, in specially constructed galvanised iron
bins of a pattern approved by that Officer, and to thoroughly cleanse and disinfect such
bins before returning them to the Markets and shops.
The undertaking of the Contractor to remove the material during the evening
hours instead of the morning in order to obviate the necessity of the offal remaining in
the City all night, has been attended with the success anticipated, no complaints having
been received this year of smells arising from all night storing of such offensive matter.
Before arrangements were made for the removal of fish offal by a Contractor, it
was dealt with by the Corporation's own Officers in the ordinary way as trade refuse,
but the present method is both a financial and hygienic advance.
REMOVAL OF HUMAN REMAINS.
During the year only two cases have arisen of the disturbance of human remains
in the City. A small quantity of bones were discovered by the workmen engaged in
excavations at the Church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great, and also at No. 27, Cloth Fair.
In both cases the remains were dealt with under the supervision of your Medical
Officer of Health.