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used, but in its stead, sawdust impregnated with rancid cocoanut
oil, parchment cuttings, stinking tish, sugar scum, raw
bones, often in a putrid slate, and even night-soil, as I have
been told, although I did not see any. The consequence of the
action of the sulphuric acid upon such materials is the generation
and exhalation, in large quantities, of sulphuretted, phosphureted,
and ammoniacal gases, which are so much complained
of by passengers on the Railway. Several of the arches were
full of sugar scum, emitting a sickening, saccharine smell. I am
credibly informed by practical men, that the great quantity of
the above mentioned gases sent forth of late years from the
various works carried on in Rotherhithe, has had a perceptibly
deleterious effect upon the vegetation of the place, more especially
upon the fruit trees, which do not Iructify and bear as
formerly. I caused no notices to be served as I have been in the
habit of doing in cases of minor nuisances, but thought it better
first to submit the whole matter to the deliberation of the Vestry.
The other nuisances mentioned in the Agenda Paper, are
cases of full cesspools and imperfect drainage. All the houses in
Adam's-place and the greater part of those in Eve's-place have no
water supply. The inhabitants were loud in their complaints
to me of the great inconveniences to which they are put by the
want of this first necessary of life, without which there never
can be any improvement in the social state of the poorer classes
of society.
The number of deaths registered in Rotherhithe during the
month of April was thirty-five, two below the general average,
and eight below the corresponding month of last year, The
parish continues tolerably free from epidemic disease, two fatal
cases of scarlatina and one of whooping-cough have, however,
occurred. A11 infant died from small-pox in the Commercial
1 locks, but it was on board of a barge, it is highly probable
that the disease did not originate in Rotherhithe, but was imported
from without. About half the deaths of the month are
of children under three years of age.
Yours respectfully.
May, 1857. W. MURDOCH.
SEVENTEENTH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
A letter having been sent to me by the Association of the
Medical Officers of Health, inviting my attention to the state of
the cowhouses in Rotherhithe, I made it my business to visit
with the Inspector of Nuisances every place in the district