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houses as nuisances, and I should not recommend at present
any other interference on the part of this Vestry.
Of the places mentioned in the agenda paper for your consideration,
but one deserves special mention, viz., St. Anne's-terrace,
a row of three houses in Gomm-road. There being no
sewer or drain near these dwellings, a large cesspool has been
dug in the centre of the back garden of the middle house, to
receive the drainage of the whole row. At the time of my
examination, it had become full, and the liquid portion of its
contents fermenting, from the heat of the weather, was overflowing
the wooden covering of the cesspool, and running into
the neighbouring gardens. The stench was so great, that
several of the inmates of the houses applied personally to me to
get it abated. The cesspool has been since emptied, and the
evil suspended for a time; proper drainage would be the only
really efficient remedy.
Sickness and Mortality.
Forty-four deaths were registered during the month of May.
Nine inquests were held; two on persons who died suddenly,
from disease, one on an elderly woman, 81, who expired from
the effect of accidental burning, and six on persons drowned, by
committing suicide or otherwise. The oldest person registered,
was a male, aged 91, two females attained each the age of 82.
The parish continues healthy, andfreerfrom epidemicdisease than
it was, perhaps, ever known before. One death from typhoid
fever occurred in a child, five years old, but not one took place
either from measles, smallpox, scarlet-fever, or hooping-cough.
Yours respectfully,
Jane, 1857. W. MURDOCH.
EIGHTEENTH RE PORT.
Gentlemen,
Complaints are being continually made by the inhabitants of
Rotlierhithe-street, from the southern extremity of Swan-lane to
the "Horns," of the foul smells which they have been obliged
to endure for some time past. Nor are these complaints without
foundation; for in the above mentioned length of Street, about
a mile, there are, besides the Surrey Consumer's Gas Works, no
less than nine factories for the fabrication of patent manure, that
is to say, nine sources of fetid gases. When these factories are
in full activity, as they are from the month of December to
July, the stores of stinking ingredients used by the manufacturers,