London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Clerkenwell 1863

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St James & St John]

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23
Cow-Houses.— Towards the end of the year, the cow-houses in
the Parish were inspected by the Sanitary Committee and myself,
prior to the issuing of the licenses. They were 31 in number,
kept by 28 cowkeepers, and contained 669 cows.
The keeping of cows in a crowded parish is always objectionable,
on account of the noxious effluvia evolved by the
decomposing dung, and the fermenting grains; in addition to the
deterioration of the milk secreted by the animals in a confined
state. In a few cases, great complaint was made of the nuisance
arising, although the general condition of the cows and cowhouses
was good. The nuisance can always be reduced to a great
extent, by causing the dung to be removed often, and early in the
morning, and by ensuring the thorough cleansing of the grainpits
before each fresh addition of grains.
It may be well to remark, that in consequence of neglect
in the management of the cow-houses in St. James's Parish,
Westminster, after repeated warning, the magistrates refused to
grant licenses to any of the cow-keepers; so that cows are no
longer kept in the Parish. And the result has been very
satisfactory. For the property in the neighbourhood of the
cow-houses has already improved, a better class of tenants occupy
the houses, and no complaints are made of the quantity or
quality of the milk to be obtained in the Parish.
This may serve as a warning to the cow-keepers in this
Parish, for the Vestry have decidedly the power to close any cowhouse
which is a nuisance.
Slaughter-Houses.—The slaughter-houses were also inspected
by the Sanitary Committee and myself. They were 43
in number, kept by 41 butchers.
The complaints to be made against the slaughter-houses are
of a minor kind. In a few cases, they are small, and the cattle
have to be driven over the pavement to enter them ; but as regards
the manner in which they are kept, the slaughter-houses in this
Parish will well bear comparison with any others in the metropolis.
Bakehouses.—The " Act for the regulation of Bakehouses "
having come into force about the middle of the year, a notice of
its provisions was sent to the bakers of the parish; but the bakehouses
were not inspected during the year.
Sanitary Improvements.—The following sanitary improvements
were effected during the year: 340 feet of new sewer were
constructed; 53 sewers were cleansed; 225 gullies were cleansed,
12 repaired, 2 trapped, 9 newly constructed; 39 houses were
drained; 27 house drains laid; 36 cesspools emptied and filled up ;
224 cart-loads of soil carted away from sewers and gullies ; 1 new