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so that they could no longer he used as thoroughfares. All these alterations
have been carried into effect, and I am. informed that the slops, &c., are now
not thrown into the public street. One of the cellars is used for keeping
coals, and the other, which has an opening into the street, is used by a
basket maker for storing canes, &c., for the purposes of his trade.
Houses Closed, the same being unfit for Human Habitation.
On the 26th July last, Mr. Wrack, the Inspector, drew my attention to
the unhealthy condition of nine houses in Pratt's Alley, Little North Street,
Whitechapel. Upon inspection of the same I was of opinion that the houses
were totally unfit for habitation, in consequence of the court being very
harrow, and two feet below the surface of the street. The floor of the groundfloor
room of each house is one foot below the level of the court; the height
cf the rooms is only about six feet, and the ventilation of the houses is most
defective. After inspecting the court I called upon the owner (Mr. Baylis)
and informed him of the unfitness of these houses for habitation; whereupon
Mr. Baylis intimated that the houses should be immediately closed. This
was done, and the entrance to the Court is blocked up.
Trade Nuisance Abated.
In April last several complaints were made of an offensive smell arising
from the trade of a Marine Store Dealer, carried on in the rear of 28, Great
Pearl Street, Spitalfields. The premises are surrounded by houses in New
Court Quaker Street, Half Wilk Court, Wilk Court, and Great Pearl Street,
all of which are occupied by poor people. The inhabitants complained that
they were unable to open their windows in consequence of the offensive
smell from the premises in question, arising from a large accumulation of
filthy rags and other offensive matter. Upon notice being served upon the
occupier he removed his business to more suitable premises.
Unlicensed Slaughter House used for the Slaughtering of Cattle.
A summons was taken out against a butcher for slaughtering cattle on
his premises, the same not being licensed for such purpose. The case was
heard at the Thames Police Court, and the Magistrate inflicted a fine of
£2 10s. and costs. In August, 1865, the same person was summoned for a
similar offence, and fined £2 and costs. The full penalty for the offence
of slaughtering cattle in unlicensed places is £5.
Milk and Typhoid Fever.
It having been proved, by most unquestionable evidence, that typhoid
fever may be caused by the use of milk which has been exposed to the emanations
of persons suffering from that disease, and by the mixture with the
milk of a very small quantity of water which has been contaminated by the
excretions of patients so affected, it is, for the safety of the public, of the
greatest importance that all the dairies, not only in London, but in the country,
should be frequently inspected by the Sanitary Officers, to see that the
water used in them is taken from a pure source, and that the milk is kept
at a sufficient distance from an inhabited house, so as to prevent the possibility
of the milk being contaminated by the excretions from any person who may