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7
of Directors, and I am directed to state in continuation of
our letter of the 25th June last, that the Directors find that
the hopes therein expressed have not been fulfilled.
As stated, every effort has been made to reduce the sulphur
to the lowest per centage, and temporarily with success, but
after a while the eccentric variations again occurred, and it
may now be fairly admitted that the certainty of eliminating
this compound can only be effected by a costly re-arrangement
of plant, and the creation of a terrible nuisance in the
neighbourhood, from which the adjacent Parish of Greenwich
would be the greatest sufferers.
In juxtaposition with this state of things, the Directors
wish to place the opinions of the most eminent chemists as to
the real character of the compound now under discussion.
(Copies arc sent herewith.)
From these opinions it will be seen that there is really
nothing in the question which need cause the Local Board
any anxiety, nor induce them to take anv further action in
respect to it.
The Clause of the Act of 1860 restricting the quantity of
sulphur to 20 grains has never before been acted upon, and is
practically obsolete.*
I am, &c.,
I. A. CROOKENDEN,
Sand. Edwards, Esq., Secretary.
Board of Works, Lewisham.
"The Clerk then stated that the opinions sent were those of
Dr. Odling, Mr. Thos. Wm. Keates, Consulting Chemist to
the Metropolitan Board of Works, and Mr. Thos. Wills,
Lecturer upon Chemistry at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich
; and that as regarded Dr. Odling, the statement of
opinion sent appeared to have been made in a Lecture
delivered by him to the Metropolitan Association of Medical
* Note.—In the Appendix, page 28, is an extract from a Report to the
Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London, explaining why the Clause is
"practically obsolete" within their jurisdiction.