View report page

2
the Nuisances Removal Act (18 and 19 Vie., c. 121) repealed the
earlier sanitary legislation, and substituted a more efficient, if still
defective, code in its place. Both these important Acts have
subsequently had valuable amendments engrafted on them, as for
instance, the Act amending the Nuisances Removal Act (23 and 24
Vic., c. 77).
Mr. Pearce was appointed the first Medical Officer of Health
under the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855, and Mr.H. Bliss,
the sole Nuisance Inspector. At this time the Parish contained
about 97,647 inhabitants and 13,500 houses.
In 1857, Mr. Bliss resigned his post as Nuisance Inspector in
consequence of being appointed Rate Collector. Ho was succeeded
by Mr. Eagles, who subsequently was also appointed a Rate
Collector, and in due course resigned the Nuisance Inspectorship.
Mr. Cornwall was the next Inspector, he died in 1863, and was
succoeded by Mr. Morris. Mr. Ford was appointed to act in
conjunction with Mr. Morris, but an indiscretion on Mr. Ford's
part in writing to the public press on Parish matters, caused him
to be dismissed. Mr. Christey was then appointed as Chief
Inspector, and Mr. Morris acted as his subordinate. A prosecution,
instituted by the Inspectors, against a vendor of what was alleged
to bo unwholesome meat, having miscarried by reason of insufficient
evidence, and neither of the Inspectors being possessed of adequate
experience to guarantee the efficient discharge of the duties of their
offices in the matter of the condemnation of unsound meat, the
Vestry ordered that they should not seize any more meat until it
had been first inspected and condemned by Mr. J. W. Burrows,
the Coroner's Officer and Beadle, and who had formerly carried
on business as a butcher. The Vestry thought so highly of
Mr. Burrows' skill in the discharge of the new duties they entrusted
him with, that in 1868 he was made a third Nuisance Inspector in
addition to his other duties. The Parish was at this time divided
into districts, and Mr. Morris was transferred to other duties under
the Surveyor. The population at this time was about 112,650,
and the numbor of houses 14,500.