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81
Chronic diarrhoea is a disease that is almost always produced
by breathing a polluted atmosphere." It is needless for me to
present further statistics to show the unhealthiness of that
locality, for how could it be otherwise than unhealthy when the
whole atmosphere of the neighbourhood is reeking with stench.
As a matter of fact, in hot weather it is impossible to walk down
Latymer Road without perceiving the offensive state of the
atmosphere. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that
diseased bioplasm, or diseased germs, should there find a
pabulum in which to live, retain full vitality, and propagate their
species. So great is the atmospheric pollution in that locality,
that as I am informed many hundreds of the pigs themselves
have been attacked with scarlet or typhoid fever, and have either
died or have been slaughtered, to save them from a natural
death. I have no evidence before me as to what was done with
the flesh of these animals. Without doubt such meat ought not
to be used for human consumption.
Licensed Cow Houses.
A great deal was done in improving the condition of the
licensed cow houses within this district last year. At the
October meeting of the Justices at Kensington Sessions the
Bench supported all the requirements of your Board. Each
licence was endorsed with the number of cows that might be
lawfully kept upon the premises for which it was held. An area
of 800 cubic feet was required for each cow. In one case the
licence was refused because a licensee was unwilling to conform
with your requirements. He submitted to the Bench that they
were unreasonable and unnecessary, but when, after personal
inspection the magistrates decided otherwise, he informed them
that he was unwilling to comply. In two cases licences were
granted through some clerical mistake, the premises being in a
most defective sanitary condition. In one case the licence was
granted upon the understanding that the requirements would be
carried out. The promise has not been fulfilled. A great deal
of difficulty was experienced owing to the fact that the cowkeepers
did not clearly comprehend the law on the subject.
I hey seemed to suppose that because they were required to be
registered by the Metropolitan Board of Works under the Contagious
Disease (Animals) Act, 1878, that therefore the jurisdiction
of your Board under the Metropolis Local Management
Act, 1862, was repealed. they did not seem to be able to understand
that under the Metropolis Local ;Management Act, 1862,
they were required to be licensed, your Board being the Local