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27
females—in each ecclesiastical district, as I thought it might
be useful.
During the past year I attended on Mr. Ayrton, with
Mr. Ellis and other gentlemen, on several occasions respecting
the condition of the bathing lakes, Victoria Park, and with
Mr. Charles Reed and several members of the Vestry, respecting
improved regulations for bathing. After a good deal of
correspondence the lakes have been cleansed, and are no longer
injurious to health.
I have also had an interview and some correspondence
with the Secretary of the Regent's Canal Company as to the
cleansing of the canal and basins leading thereto. The medical
officers of health for Shoreditch and Bethnal Green joined
me in the applications to the Regent's Canal Company, and so
afforded material assistance. There was considerable difficulty
in getting some of the basins cleansed in our district, and I
believe also in Shoreditch; but eventually the whole of the mud
was removed.
There have been several prosecutions of persons for
carrying on trades so as to be a nuisance to the neighbourhood.
One—namely, that against Mr. Davy, was mentioned in my
last report, so that it need not be referred to at greater length.
Another was against the occupier of a fat-melting house, where
various kinds of fat were melted by steam, and subsequently
purified. At times the smell was very offensive, especially
when a large quantity of tinned Australian meat was boiled
down for the fat. Proceedings were taken under the unrepealed
sections of the Old Building Act, as the premises were within
40 feet of a road, and 50 feet of a house, and the magistrate
fined the defendant £5 and costs. Notices were also served