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hair, wool, and vegetable cellular tissue; after two or three days exposure to
light, multitudes of fungi and animalculas became developed; they contained Nitrates
and Ammonia, and unconverted organic matter; and the quantity of inorganic
impurity was largely increased. The character of some of these impurities clearly
points out the source whence they are derived, viz., from foul washings and sewage.
The origin of these underground tanks is no doubt the want of space above
ground. In these confined localities every square inch of space is economised in order
to squeeze in a greater number of tenements. The remedy is simple, obvious,
and effective. Fill up the tanks, and substitute taps furnished on the system of
constant supply.
Slaughter-Houses.—The time has arrived when the provisions of the
"Metropolitan Market Act" (14 and 15 Vic., cap. 61) relative to private SlaughterHouses
comes into operation. Under this Act it is provided that all places used as
Slaughter-Houses after the 1st of December of the year next following that in which
the public Slaughter-Houses attached to the Metropolitan Market are provided shall
be licensed at the preceding Michaelmas Quarter Sessions This condition was fulfilled,
and official notice thereof given in the London Gazette, in June, 1855. By the 131st
section of the " Metropolis Local Management Act," all persons intending to apply
for such license are required to give one month's notice to the Vestry. In order that
these provisions might be fully known, the Yestry sanctioned the issue of a circular
Notice, which has been sent to every butcher within the Parish whose address could
be ascertained. 79 butchers have given notice of their intention to apply for
licenses. The premises of all these applicants have been examined by your Inspectors,
and the Medical Officer has further examined those where doubts existed as to their
fitness for slaughtering. In some cases where the drainage or other necessary
provision was defective, the approval of your officers has been suspended until the
proper alterations shall be carried out. In many other cases, alterations have been
voluntarily made, in anticipation of inspection. In other cases, again, of premises
that did not admit of being adapted to meet the requirements laid down, the occupiers
have wisely abstained form giving notice.
The effect of thus bringing the Slaughter-Houses under official inspection
has been beneficial. And, since it will be necessary to renew the licenses annually,
a continuous supervision will be kept up, the good effect of which will be aided by
the natural desire of the butchers to maintain their premises in such order as to
ensure that renewal. Considerable difference of opinion exists as to how far, or