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An open ditch, beginning by a dead head at the southern extremity
of Berkeley-street, after running a course of about two
hundred and fifty or three hundred yards, discharges itself into
the sewer in Swan-lane. The ditch itself is clean and without
smell, and receives the drainage of ten small houses. It is a
nuisance certainly, as all open ditches are; but a very small
one, compared to the King's-mills stream, which is within a
few yards of it, and on whose nearly stagnant water, green
slime, mud, and putrefying vegetable matter, I have often commented
in my former reports.
Forty-three deaths were registered in Rotherhithe during November
; the monthly mortality having been increased by six inquests.
The beginning of winter has had its usual effects upon
the aged, the death of no less than ten persons above the age
of 70 having been recorded; namely, six between the ages of
70 and 80; three, between eighty and ninety; and one of a
nonagenarian, the widow of a mariner, residing in Paradisestreet.
The epidemics prevalent are hooping-cough and
measles ; four deaths have been caused by the former, and one
by the latter.
Yours respectfully,
December, 1857. W. MURDOCH.
TWENTY-FOURTH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
The manufacture of patent manure in open vessels, is always
a nuisance, but varying in degree according to the materials
employed.
The worst kinds of effluvia are generated by the action of
sulpuric acid upon raw bones, blood, pieces of skin, soot, sugarscum,
and such-like ingredients. A strong acid smell also
always pervades the atmosphere in the neighbourhood of the
factories, while the mixing is going on. The sulphuric acid
itself, being but slightly volatile, I suspect that particles of it
are carried up by the numerous gases evolved in the process.
These gases are injurious to the health; many persons have
complained of nausea and headache, from their effects ; the
acid fumes, too, are highly irritating to individuals with the
least tendency to cough, or to any bronchial affection.
The manufacture of patent manure has, however, of late, become
an important branch of industry in Rotherhithe, and
gives employment to a considerable number of the poorest
class of the labouring population. It never has been the intention
of any person connected with this vestry, either to