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I also reported upon several other trades-nuisances, such as malt roasting, soap
making, &c., and in all these instances the proprietors expressed their willingness to
use the best practicable means to destroy the noxious effluvia from their premises. The
bone-boiling premises, in the neighbourhood of Thomas Street, appear to be as
offensive as ever, and complaints of the smell from them continue to be made.
From the returns of the Inspectors of Nuisances, it appears that during the last
quarter 271 houses have been systematically visited, that 984 nuisances of various
kinds have been inspected, 178 cesspools abolished, and 105 cesspools cleansed, where
there was no sewerage within 100 feet of the premises; but for the further particulars
of the work done by the Inspectors, I must refer you to the Tables I., II., & XV.
The house-to-house visitation still continues to be attended with beneficial results.
The following case was discovered by Mr. Coward, in the course of his visitation.
At 10, Duke Street, Old Artillery Ground, in one room, there slept a man and his
wife, their son, 15 years of age, and their daughter, about 19 or 20, also another
daughter who was pregnant, and a young man who lived with her, making a total in
this room of six, three males, and three females, all adults. This house was reported
to the police, and is now registered as a common lodging-house; the recurrence,
therefore, of such a state of demoralization will be prevented.
The overcrowding which exists in this district, perhaps, to a great extent, is
owing to the extreme poverty of the people, 2s. or even 1s. 6d. a week, being more
than many can afford to pay for a room. If, therefore, healthy houses could be built,
so as to enable the proprietors to let each room for 1s. per week, great advantages
would accrue to our working population; and this subject is well worthy the consideration
of benevolent individuals, and parochial authorities, who have power under
the provisions of two acts of parliament,* to erect improved dwellings for the labouring
class. It cannot be too often impressed upon our minds, that sickness among the poor
is the great cause of pressure upon the rates, and everything that will tend to diminish
the number of sick, will be so much saved to the rate-payers.
If it be true, as is predicted, that we are to have a succession of hot summers,
it more especially behoves us, during the ensuing winter months, to hasten on
our sanitary improvements, by causing the unpaved and badly paved courts to be
paved, and to abolish all cesspools within 100 feet of a sewer.
Nine of the private courts in this district,† where the pavement was in so dilapidated
a state as to prevent the water from flowing off, thereby, in the opinion of the
Medical Officer of Health, causing, or likely to cause, ill health to the inhabitants,
have been paved at the expense of the owners, upon notices being served upon them
by the Inspectors; and two other of the private courts‡ have been paved by order of
*The 14 and I5 V., c. 34, entitled "The Labouring Classes Lodging House Act," and the
18 and 19 V., c. 132, entitled "The Labourers' Dwellings Act."
† Hampshire Court, Tongue Yard, Little Tongue Yard, Drum Yard, Hunt Court, Rosetta
Place, John's Place, Hobb's Court, and Crown Court, Quaker Street.
‡ Marlborough Court and Little Love Court.