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9
I have also thought it advisable at the present moment, to submit again for
analysis, the water from the pump in Love Court, Middlesex Street ; it being supposed
that the use of bad water, under certain circumstances, is likely to produce
cholera.
In August, 1856, the water from this pump was submitted to analysis, when
the total impurity was found to be 188.80 grs. in a gallon; and on examining the
water taken from the same pump on Wednesday last, the total impurity was found to
be 199.20 grs. in a gallon, in which were 12 grains of organic matter.* Nitric acid
was also detected in this water, proving most satisfactorily that it is derived from an
impure source. There is, however, fortunately not very much danger to be apprehended
from the inhabitants using this pump, for the water has a very unseemly
appearance, and so convinced are they of its bad quality, that they will only use it
for cleansing their houses and yards. As the landlord is about to supply water to
the water-closets of all his tenants in this locality, it is probable that this useless
pump will be taken away. Were the water more pleasing to the eye, very great
danger might be apprehended were it used for drinking.
It will be seen, by referring to the tables Nos. 1 & 2, that a large amount of
work has been done by your Inspectors of Nuisances during the last quarter. 456
houses have been systematically visited, and 191 notices for sanitary improvements
served. These notices relate to the various subjects set forth in the tables above
referred to. On comparing the table for the past quarter with that ending June 27th,
it will be observed, that instead of the 962 cases then reported as not completed,
there are now 624 cases only. 338 of these works have therefore been completed
since the last report.
I have also to mention, that your Inspectors seized a large quantity of putrid
and unwholesome meat, which was exposed for sale in Rosemary Lane, aud summoned
the offending party before the Magistrate at the Thames Police Office, who
inflicted a fine of 40s. and gave orders for the meat to be destroyed. After the
decision of the Magistrate in this case, your Board ordered hand-bills to be distributed
over the district, warning persons of the penalty attending the exposing for sale all
kinds of unwholesome food. This appears to have had a good effect in preventing
the recurrence of like practices, as nothing of the kind has since been heard of.
A summons was taken out by one of your Inspectors of Nuisances against a
butcher, for using an unlicensed place for slaughtering animals for human food'; upon
which occasion the Magistrate fined the defendant in the mitigated penalty of five
shillings and costs. The Magistrate had the power, under the act, of inflicting a
penalty of £5.
* About the same time, an analysis of the water supplied by the several Water Companies
in the Metropolis, was made by Dr. R. D. Thomson, Professor of Chemistry at Saint
Thomas' Hospital, and the following is the result of such analysis;—West Middlesex, Total
Impurity, per gallon, 18.6. Grand Junction, 19.12. Lambeth, 21.12. Chelsea, 22.4. New
River, 18.6. East London, 21.2. The organic matter in each varied from 1.04 to 2.24 grs.
per gallon.