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successfully vaccinated was 1,821; of which, 1,599 were under one year, and 255 above that
age. The unsuccessful cases of vaccination are 42, and for the previous year they were 51.
During the quarter, I have visited and reported upon several trades-nuisances, viz :—
the two malt-roasting premises in Spitalfields ; one belonging to Mrs. Backhouse, the other
to Mr. Johnson; the premises belonging to Mr. John Davis, sugar-refiner, where animal
charcoal is re-burned ; the premises of Mr. Quantrall, in Buck's Row ; and those of Mr. Smith,
in Thomas-street, where the businesses of bone-boiling, &c. are carried on ;-also other premises
where offensive trades, such as the making of tarpauling, tripe-boiling, &c., arc conducted. In
speaking of trades-nuisances, I must not omit to lay before you the result of my frequent visits
to the refinery premises belonging to Sir A. Rothschild, adjoining the Royal Mint. It appears
that when the process of refining is in full operation, 100 carboys (each containing about 1 cwt.)
of sulphuric acid, commonly kno wn as " oil of vitriol," are used every day ; about 50 per cent.
of which was, before the improvements recently completed, allowed to escape into the
neighbourhood, producing the greatest possible discomfort to all who unfortunately breathed
the air thus contaminated by so acrid a vapour, as that issuing from the boiling of " oil of
vitriol." It now appears from the statement of Sir A. Rothschild, that he is enabled to condense
and save a very large portion of the sulphur gases which caused so much annoyance,
aud by this means, effect a considerable saving of expense to himself. Sir A. Rothschild
estimates the outlay already made in his endeavours to abate the nuisance, at £2,030. As Sir
Anthony is still engaged in making further improvements in the apparatus recently erected,
the outlay will exceed that amount. It affords me, however, much pleasure to state that Sir
Anthony Rothschild values the product, or saving effected by the alterations, at about £ 10
each day the men are in full work; thus proving most satisfactorily, that the application of
sanitary science to the removal of nuisances, is alike beneficial to the public aud to the manufacturer.
I have, upon more than one occasion, brought before your notice the unhealthy condition
of several small private school-rooms, and I have also pointed out the necessity, upon
physiological grounds, of allowing as large, or nearly as large, a cubic space for the respiration
of a child, as for an adult. What then can be thought of the unhealthy condition of a schoolroom
in Tenter Street, Spitalfields, which your Inspector discovered on making a house- to-house
visitation, which room was only 10ft. X 8 X 7i, in which were 23 children, and 2 adults!
The cubic contents of this room allowed only 24 cubic feet to each person, which is rather less
than would be afforded by a box 3ft. cube. As healthy respiration cannot be carried on in a
less space than 300 cubic feet, the danger of this over-crowded school must be apparent. Upon
notice being served, the proprietor abandoned the school, saying that if he reduced the number
of his scholars, it would not pay.
My attention has recently been called to the over-crowded condition of Inkhorn Court,*
in which three new houses have recently been erected, on a site where houses had not previously
stood. This court, which contains a superficial area of 3295 feet, measured from the
backs of the houses on each side, (making, however, a deduction for the thickness of the walls),
has 10 houses, which are occupied by 117 persons. This area affords to each person a free
space only of 28 superficial feet. The entire court would not afford healthy accommodation
for 40 horses, supposing stables to be built upon the site. At the southern extremity,
and adjoining these newly erected houses, are three privies and a dust-bin, in a narrow,
unpaved, and filthy passage, about 2ft. wide, which is situated within lift, of the front door of
* The special attention of the Metropolitan Board has since been called to the condition of this Court, and to other
places similarly circumstanced.