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97
"bell" traps being at that time in general use; and to the fact
that when the cover of a bell trap is removed, any quantity of
blood, manure, &c. can be let off into the drains. Your Vestry
expressed the opinion that a bell trap could not be deemed an
"appropriate trap" in conformity with the 16th Bye Law; and
the Board took steps to induce the licensees to adopt the syphon
trap and to cover the gully with a fixed grating. The majority of
the licensees at once complied with the request of the Board. In
July, however, it was found that there were still five slaughterhouses
having none other than bell traps, and that in other five the
gratings were not fixed. A further representation to the Board
having been made, the attention of the licensees was again drawn
to the matter, and the defect was, in some cases, remedied prior
to the licensing day in October.
Your Vestry had also called attention more than once to the
absence or insufficiency of the provision for watering animals in
the lairs, the result being that some of the licensees subsequently
fitted troughs, whilst others provided buckets, to supply the defect,
It was felt, however, that provision should be made at every
slaughter-house for watering the animals by the erection of
permanent troughs connected with the cistern by means of piping
and tap, and the attention of the Board was again called to the
subject.
With respect to the vessels for containing "offal, garbage, filth,
blood, and manure,' it had to be observed that sufficient care is
not taken to keep them clean; and that in some instances the
vessels were either without covers, or were so much out of shape
at the rims that, the lids not fitting, it was impossible to cover
them properly. In more than one instance the vessels when in
use were left uncovered, the lids either hanging up against the
wall or lying on the floor. With respect to the disposal of offal,
&c., the arrangements were by no means satisfactory in certain
cases. It appeared that several butchers conveyed the vessels to a
field near to Wormwood Scrubbs, and there deposited the blood,
offal, &c., on manure heaps. Occular demonstration was had of
the nuisance thus created; the stench, moreover, emitted by the
refuse being perceptible at a great distance. The Bye-laws require
that offal, blood, &c., should be deposited in covered vessels and
removed from the premises within 24 hours, or before the same