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Irongate Wharf Road.
This road, a private road maintained by the Grand Junction
Canal Company, was for many years in a shameful state.
Stagnant water, defective scavengering, allowing dead animals
and refuse to remain, were constant complaints. It has at length
been channelled, and a good granite roadway laid down, and is
now properly cleansed by a man told off for that purpose.
The Manure-loading Nuisance.
The manure-loading wharves have somewhat improved by
their constant inspection, including Sundays. The fear of being
summoned under the Local Act for undue deposit and retention
of dung in transit, compels traders to be more vigilant and
prompt in getting off their loaded boats into the country. Still
the nuisance exists and more must be done.
Report of Relapsing Fever.
Soon after the end of the hop-picking season, when the
wandering poor return to their low-lodging houses, cases of
relapsing fever shew themselves in the Metropolis. It ought to
be at once checked by watchful sanitary inspection.
In my fortnightly Report, January 2nd, I requested that the
Poor Law Medical Officers should give early information of
fever cases, and of sanitary nuisances capable of removal,
and especially those in the dwellings of the very poor.
To notice and report to the Sanitary Authority, and seek for
removal of nuisances affecting the health, or recovery from sickness,
of any or such of the patients under their care, is evidently
an important element of successful treatment. I suggested that
marginal notes should be made in the books kept by the Poor
Law Medical Officers attending the Dispensary; that their
remarks should refer to overcrowding, uncleanly habits, bad ventilation,
drainage, &c. The attention of the Sanitary Inspector,
who examines the books weekly, would thus be directed towards
their removal. Landlords of houses let out, and sublet to more
than one family, cannot be too frequently reminded by Sanitary
Inspectors of the responsibility they owe to their weekly tenants
living on this class of property.
The New Inspector.
Inspector Biorn, immediately after his appointment, commenced
the regular systematic inspection of those streets and
districts of the Parish in which the houses are let out in tenements
to more than one family. This work has now been carried
on for some years, but was in some degree suspended by the