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realize all that is expected of them, so as to be deemed worthy of general
application, there is great probability of such an amount of benefits
being derived as to warrant a trial in your district. I am sorry to place
before you so crude a report on the Chemistry of this subject; buti
matters of this kind require far greater opportunities and much more
time than I have at my command.
" I remain, Gentlemen,
" Your faithful and obedient Servant,
Hammersmith, " FREDERICK J. BURGE,
Sept. 23, 1858. Medical Officer of Health."
SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT.
To the Board of Works of the Fulham District.
Gentlemen,—Since the presentation of the foregoing Reports to the
Sanitary Committee, I have been constantly engaged in a series of experiments
on the Broadway and Bridge Road Ventilators. The materials
used for the deodorization of the gaees have been simple charcoal, the
oxide of iron mixed with coarse sawdust, and charcoal saturated with
Condy's fluid. The first and last have been placed in the cellular arrangement
already described, and the oxide in the series of trays also alluded
to. From the partial manner in which the apparatus has been applied,
it is impossible to arrive at a positive conclusion as to the exact amount
of resistance to the passage of the gases offered by the deodorizer, but as
far as my experience has taught, I feel certain that no injurious influence
is exercised thereby upon the ventilation of the sewer.
Coincident with my experiments, Mr. Bean has caused an investigation
to be made periodica1 by the person in charge of the Bridge
Road Sewer, with reference to its condition as indicated by the sense
of smell, and for the ourpose of ascertaining whether any change for the
worse had occurred in consequence of the use of the apparatus. These
examinations testify that the air of the sewers will not be in any way
injuriously affected, and that whilst almost, if not quite the whole of
the nuisance arising from the old mode of ventilating them will by this
means be annihilated, no impediment of consequence will be offered to
the passage of the gases, neither can any ill consequence be expected to
affect the workmen employed in cleansing or repairing them. An
inquiry in the neighbourhood of the Broadway Ventilator satisfies me
also that no injurious influence has been exerted on the house drains in
consequence of my experiments.
I have endeavoured to search truthfully into the effect of the apparatus,
and have therefore no hesitation in recommending your Board to
adopt a more enlarged application of it, selecting for further trial such a
portion of tbe district as will, in the opinion of Mr. Bean and myself, put
it to the severest possible test.
I hope, by the Diagrams now before you, to give you ocular evidence of
the result of some of my experiments. The test papers attached thereto
point out the intensity of the gases in the sewer and shaft, and their
modification after passing through the deodorizing process.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your faithful and obedient Servant,
FREDERICK J. BURGE,
July 6th, 1859. Medical Officer of Health.