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Small holes, which we suspected had been made to run off the
surface water, but we had at hand no means of ascertaining
whether a way had been broken into the sewer or not.
At No. 5, Lavender-lane, the drain is stopped. At No. 3r5o,
Rotherhithe-wall, the privy is close to the kitchen door. The
cesspool ought to be filled up and replaced by proper drainage.
Notices have been served in each of the above cases respectively.
An accident resulting in severe injury to the shoulder of the
person who was the subject of it, happened on Christmas Eve,
from the peculiar construction of the tramway which traverses
Rotherhithe-street, near the Pageants'-stairs. Where it crosses
the footway on the south side, the tram rises a little above the
level of the path, and is apt to catch the toe of the passengers,
and throw them forwards. I have, therefore, thought it proper
to bring the matter before this Board.
The process of making patent manure is now carried on in
closed vessels, as recommended by me when I first visited these
factories in 1856, and the nuisance of the manufacture is thereby
much lessened. About two years ago there was a disagreeable
smell, or rather, a series of disagreeable smells, from Swan-lane
to the Pageants; at present the atmosphere of the street is as
pure as that of any other part of the parish—much purer, indeed,
than that of Paradise-row, where the atmosphere is continually
contaminated by the evolution of volumes ofsewer gas from the
recently constructed air-shafts.
Fifty-two deaths were registered in December, of which
twenty nine, or above half, were from diseases of the respiratory
organs. The only epidemic now prevalent in Rotherliithe is
hooping-cough, which was fatal in four cases. The appointment
of public vaccinators has told favourably upon the health
of this place. Since that measure was taken for the propagation
of vaccination, small-pox has become much less common than
formerly, and I am happy to say that during the year 1858, no
death from that dreadful malady was registered in this parish.
Yours respectfully,
January, 1859. W. MURDOCH.
THIRTY-SEVENTH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
On Tuesday, the 25th of January, I received an official letter
from R. D. Grainger, Esq., inviting me to meet him on Thursday,
the 27th, at noon, for the purpose of examining the state of
the vaults connected with the parish church of St. Mary, Rotherhithe.
There were present at the place of meeting, besides R.