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apportioned as a cemetery is still untouched, that in their pre???
sent state neither of these places is injurious to public health
that the ground of All Saints' is capable of receiving at lea???
three hundred more bodies without impropriety or inconven???
ence, and finally, that it will be a great boon to the poor???
Rotherhithe, if permission can be obtained from the Government
to keep the latter open a little longer."
The sulphuric acid maker in Union-place has applied to the
Metropolitan Board for permission to erect a higher shaft, and
to improve his premises. It is to be hoped that these improvements
will abate the nuisance hitherto complained of.
The salvage of the London Dock fire, composed of sugar, rice
pepper, hemp, Ac., housed at Mr. Fisher's, Rotherhithe-street
has fermented, and evolves foul effluvia. Steps for its remove
ought to be immediately taken.
The houses and cooperage on the east side of West-lane
West-place, Iphirgenia-cottages, the Ironmonger's shop, and the
Black Bull, Rotherhithe-wall, have been carefully examined
As yet the drainage of only two houses, Nos. 10 and 11, have
been connected with the new sewer. The others, with the exception
of the cooperage, and the ironmongcrVshop, and the
Black Bull drain, directly or indirectly into the Mill-stream
Nos. 18, 19, and 20 have no water supply. I am happy to say
that this defect is becoming of rare occurrence in Rotherhithe.
The heaps of putrefying animal and vegetable matter unde
the Brighton Railway arches have been covered with tan, and
are at present comparatively harmless.
The Parish continues remarkably healthy. The monthly
mortality of October was thirty-one, considerably under the
average.
Yours respectfully,
November, 1858. W. MURDOCH.
THIRTY-FIFTH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
During the severe weather of the elapsed month, passengers
on their way along Paradise-row, and the Deptford-road, must
have frequently observed columns of vapour rising from the
gratings of the air-shafts recently sunk into the sewer of that
locality. The cause is simple, the gases of the sewer being in
cold weather warmer and lighter than the air, rush up the vents
in obedience to the laws governing aeriform fluids. Now we
know by experience, that sewer gas in the concentrated state is
a fearful poison, killing with the rapidity of lightning, and that