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the tallow through the fire place, and thus to consue them. For a while, and
during the winter, the effluvia was less disagreeable to the neighbours, but with the
warm weather of 1859, it appears that they are again the subject of complaint.
In my report for 1867, I gave an account of the preliminary measures
which had been taken in reference to the vaults under places of worship in the
district, together with the order in council which had been issued for their improvement.
The alterations specified in this order were effected in the autumn of 1858,
under the supervision of the Surveyor and myself. As the nature of the works
performed will be stated to you in the Surveyor's Report, I shall make no remark on
them, beyond stating that the manner of their execution elicited the strong approval
of the Government Medical Inspector, Mr. Grainger, who visited the vaults after
the alterations.
I wish, however, to record the precautions taken to preserve the health of
the workman, as our experience on this point may be useful to others. At the
outset the walls were limewhited, and the coffins sprinkled freely with Mc Dougal's
powder, a disinfectant of which sulphurous acid is the most active ingredient. This
substance answered its purpose admirably, and the "dredger" was in great favour
with the labourers. Thick gloves were worn to protect the hands from scratches,
and the recesses of the vaults where foul air might stagnate, were well ventilated by
jets of gas. With these precautions, the men experienced remarkable immunity
from illness throughout their hazardous work. In Bloomsbury Church, where a
re-arrangement of the coffins was found necessary, a dozen or more of them were met
with, from which there was some leakage, and the effluvia were horrible until the
use of the disinfectant. The black foetid fluid escaping from these coffins could not
always be avoided, and in one case it was received into a cut in a workman's hand,
yet happily no bad result followed. Diarrhœa affected all the men; it was easily
checked by treatment, and there was no more s rious ailment.
The completion of the entombment of the coffins under the churches is
another proceeding which will make the past year a date in our parochial history.
Since the present churches were built, in the first quarter of the eighteenth century,
not one of the 1700 coffins has been deposited in their vaults except in virtual
violation of the Act of parliament under which they were erected. It has been for
the ratepayers of 1858 to rectify the errors of their fathers, and to take the final
step in the extinction of the system of vault sepulture in St. Giles's.
The prevention of small-pox in the district, has engaged a gocd deal of
anxious attention. In the summer of 1858, circulars were extensively dist ibuted,
informing parishioners of the state of the law with regard to vaccination, and of the
places where the operation would be performed for their children. In October, I
addressed a letter to the Board of Directors, calling their attention to the Public
Health Act of 1858, and inviting them to appoint officers to put in force the laws
relating to vaccination. Mr. Bennett, the public vaccinator, and the Overseers, were
accordingly appointed. I believe that these gentlemen have enquired into the circumstances
attending all cases of small-pox that have come under their notice, but
that they have met with no case in which it appeared to them advisable to enforce
the provisions of the Compulsory Vaccination Acts,