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never entirely absent from London, there being seldom less than 2,000
deaths annually from this disease, and about 14,000 cases, it may reasonably
be expected that the specific poison which is given off by the sick is
always in a greater or less degree present in the sewers. It is therefore of
the utmost importance to the well-being of the community that not only
should the emanations from the sewers be prevented from entering our
dwellings, but that the most scrupulous care should be taken to prevent
the water which we drink from being contaminated by foul gases from
water-closets, sinks, and drains.
Slaughter Houses.
I have in several of my Reports alluded to the desirability of abolishing
all slaughter-houses from the confined districts of the Metropolis,
and the time is now drawing nigh when, by the provisions of the Building
Act of 1844, it will not be lawful, after the lapse of 30 years from that
date, to slaughter cattle in any building or vault, or in the open air, at a
less distance than 40ft. from a public way, or than 50ft. from a domestic
dwelling; and if any person acts in contravention of this section he is
liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding £50 for every
day during which the business is carried on.
It is much to be regretted that this valuable provision, which was
enacted nearly 30 years ago, is now sought to be repealed, by the introduction
of a Bill to amend that Act, so far as it relates to the slaughtering
of cattle and sheep, and to render permissible the slaughtering of
cattle in butchers' private slaughter-houses. This Bill merely consists
of one clause, which is as follows:—"From and after the passing of
this Act the slaughtering of cattle or sheep by a butcher, in his private
slaughter-house, duly licensed, shall not be held to be the carrying on of
an offensive or noxious business within the meaning of the said Act."
Now, if it was deemed desirable by the Legislature 30 years ago
(when sanitary science was not so well understood as it is at the present
time, or the injurious effects of breathing air charged with the
offensive gases given off by decomposing animal matter) to prohibit the
establishing or the carrying on anew the noxious business of slaughtering
cattle, at a less distance than 50ft. from a dwelling-house is surely more
necessary at the present time. But the legislature having a regard to
the vested interests of the owners of slaughter-houses gave them the
very long period of thirty years to make such necessary arrangements
for the slaughtering of cattle in other places so as to meet the sanitary
requirements of the Metropolis.
Under such circumstances it is absurd on the part of the slaughterers
of cattle to state that the continuance of the Act of 1844 would be a
virtual confiscation of their property when situated in slaughter-houses
within the prohibited distance from a dwelling-house.
It has certainly been a mistake on the part of the licensing magistrates
to license any new slaughter-house so situated as to be within 50ft.
of a dwelling-house, but as the licences are only granted for one year, it
is to be hoped that in the year 1874 this and the several noxious businesses
specified in the 7th and 8th Vic., c. 84, will cease to exist in the
Metropolis.
For the following reasons I am of opinion that the provisions of the
Act of 1844, relating to slaughter-houses, should be continued:—
1. Because slaughter-houses as now conducted are nuisances, and
injurious to health, and although, theoretically, they may be kept "as
clean as any paved wash-house," it would be found impracticable to do
so ; and it would be impossible to enact a law which should compel the
owner of a slaughter-house to prevent offensive smells from issuing from
his premises.