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197
"sunken dung-pit," always undrained, and covered with
wooden flaps. The rain enters these pits, and confinement
of the organic matters leads to very rapid putrefaction, the
result being that, after a short detention, serious nuisance
arises, to the great discomfort of persons living in the vicinity.
Were these pits cleared regularly, as required by the regulations,
they would still be a cause of nuisance. Everyone
who has observed the "steam" arising when the contents
are disturbed, must have been annoyed by its horrible
offensiveness.
These sunken dung-pits are a nuisance in themselves,
and as the use of them involves a continually recurring
nuisance, it should be prohibited. Entertaining these views,
and all the efforts of the sanitary inspectors having failed to
keep the nuisance within bounds, I thought it desirable to
have a return prepared, shewing the kind and number of the
receptacles actually in use in the mews in the respective
districts. This return 1 submitted, in March, 1890, to the
Works and Sanitary Committee, by whom it was ordered to
be printed for the information of your Vestry, and with a
view to consideration of steps for dealing with the matter,
thoroughly and effectually; as, in 1888, nuisances in
connection with public-house urinals were dealt with.
The Sanitary Act of 1866 enabled the "Nuisance
Authority" (i.e., your Vestry) to contract with the occupiers
of stables and cowhouses, for the collection and removal of
manure or other refuse matter; but the Authority could
remove it only "with the sanction of the owner." The Public
Health Act has not made any material difference in the
position, for section 36 does no more than authorise the
Sanitary Authority to collect and remove the refuse from
stables, &c., "the occupiers of which signify their consent in
writing to such removal," which would have to be done at the
cost of the said authority. The necessary consent would be
forthcoming, probably, in most cases, once it came to be