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Street Gullies.—The gradual substitution of properly trapped gullies for those formerly
existing has greatly reduced the number of complaints received of offensive smells arising
from these appliances, especially in warm weather. In some cases this nuisance was doubtless
due to want of flushing, but in the majority faulty construction was the cause of the trouble.
The City Engineer has given special attention to this matter for several years past, and
his action in replacing the old pattern gullies with those of a more up-to-date design will,
I hope, eventually lead to a complete abatement of the evil.
Overcrowding.—Overcrowding is a nuisance to be dealt with summarily under Section 2,
Sub-section 1 (e) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and is the subject of special observations
elsewhere in this Report.
Sanitary Defects and, Infectious Diseases.—In cases of notification of infectious disease,
the premises involved were inspected with regard to the drainage system, water supply,
ventilation, etc. ; and of the 99 cases investigated in 1935, defects were found in 20 instances.
Legal Proceedings.—During the year, 53 notices have been issued by the Sanitary
Committee, and in no case was it found necessary, in consequence of non-compliance therewith,
to refer the matter to the City Solicitor.
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 nuisance caused by the
drippings from the fish carts, especially during hot weather.
Limewashing of Courts.—There are 60 courts and narrow passages situated in various
parts of the City, the walls of which, unless cleansed frequently, become dirty and unsightly
through the constant traffic of passengers or vehicles, together with the action of the smokeladen
atmosphere. These are cleansed or limewashed twice a year under the direction of
the City Engineer. Of the places so dealt with during 1935, 19 were situated in the East
District, 24 in the Middle District, and 17 in the West District.
Defective Connections to Sewer.—During the year, six reports were received from the
City Engineer respecting the condition of connections between the drains of certain City
houses and the public sewer.
Investigations showed that it was necessary to reconstruct all six of the connections
referred to. As a result of the inspection of the internal drainage system of these premises,
reconstruction or alteration was found necessary in four instances.
collection and disposal of refuse and cleansing of streets, courts and gullies.
The following observations are included in this Report by the courtesy of Mr. W. J.
Heavey, the Director of Public Cleansing :—
Collection and Disposal of Refuse.
House and trade refuse is collected by 10 a.m. from receptacles placed on the kerb in streets
scheduled by the Ministry of Transport, and after 10 a.m. from the interior of premises in other streets.
Special arrangements are made for the collection of large quantities of trade refuse in scheduled streets.
The contents of street orderly bins and market refuse are collected at any time during the day or night.
All refuse is conveyed by horse-drawn vans or motor waggons to Lett's Wharf. It is there shot
into the contractors' barges ; house, trade and market refuse being taken down the river to Hornchurch,
where it is deposited on land belonging to the Corporation. Manure and contents of street orderly
bins is separately barged where required by the contractors.
At Hornchurch, the refuse is disposed of under the system of controlled tipping, as recommended
by the Ministry of Health—i.e., the crude refuse is sealed off from the air by layers of earth excavated
from the maiden ground of the tip and from other sources.
Fires at the tip occur but seldom, and, as a precaution, iron water pipes are laid across the top
of the tip, with joints at intervals to allow for the fixing of fire hose.
No rats have been seen at the tip for over 2½ years, and this result may reasonably be attributed
to the system of controlled tipping. Arrangements have been made for dealing with these vermin
should their presence be suspected at anv time.

Seventy-four per cent, of the refuse was collected by horse vans and 26 per cent, by motor waggons.
It is estimated that the above total tonnage is equal to over 200,000 cubic yards.