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

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Kensington 1890

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

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210
removal of manure and other refuse matter." The circumstances
are now different, your Vestry having an admirable depot
at Purfleet, to which the manure could be conveyed from the
river and canal-side wharves, and where it would probably command
a ready sale at a remunerative price for use on the land.
The best part of it, the clean litter from South Kensington
stables, moreover, could be made available for the manufacture of
paper at the works adjoining your Vestry's property.
This subject of stable-refuse removal is dealt with in the
Public Health (London) Bill, and power will be given, enabling
the Sanitary Inspector to remove collections of manure, &c., at
the cost of the owner: but the section is not stringent enough.
The section giving power to the Sanitary Authority to contract
with the owner for the removal of the manure, makes no mention
of payment for the service, but I do not doubt that proper terms
could be arranged if the Authority would undertake the work.
In any case, I feel confident that, if the Act should be put in force,
i.e., if proper bye-laws are made and enforced, there will not
be any serious difficulty in abolishing sunken dung-pits.
DISINFECTION.
During the year ending March 25th, 1891, a large number
of infected articles of clothing, bedding, &c., were satisfactorily
disinfected by the contractor at the cost of your Vestry, the
owners being too poor to bear the expense. The weight of the
articles was 23 tons 13 cwt., their number 11,261, and the cost
of the process; £448 5s. 5d. Four hundred and twenty-two
rooms in 391 houses were disinfected with sulphurous acid by
your Vestry's officer, no charge being made for the service. Some
rooms, in addition, were disinfected by the contractor, as well as
numerous parcels of clothing, bedding, &c., at the request and
the cost of the owners.
NECESSARY ACCOMMODATION.
There are only fifteen public urinals in the Parish—a very
inadequate number—and no public water-closets, except those at