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19
wich Railway became sick and ill from the effects of those effluvia.
Various attempts were made by the Parish officers to obtain admission
into the premises, without success, and finally a magistrate's
order was obtained. On Monday, the 4th March, at halfpast
11, a.m., the premises were carefully examined by the Parish
officers. Everything had evidently been prepared for their reception.
The heaps of putrefying matter being completely
covered with hair or shoddy and it was only by digging a staff
deeply into them that the officers could discover the stinking mass
of putrid matter beneath. A summons had been taken out against
Mr. Salmon, and was heard on this day, March 6th. The case
was argued upon a point of law, and adjourned for one week, that
the magistrate might consult thereon with his colleague.
The houses numbered from 215 to 221, Rotherhithe Street, have
cesspools, many of which are in a filthy state. Some of the
drains also are stopped. A notice has been served.
At the south end of Swan Lane, to the west of the bridge, there
is a pond of stagnant water. The pond is formed by part of the
bed of the King's Mill Stream, and receives the superficial drainage
of five neighbouring houses.
The effect of such influx on the water of the pond may be easily
conceived. It always smells offensively, and as the temperature
irises, the stench increases in proportion—a state of things likely
to generate fever in its immediate vicinity. A notice has been
served.
The number of deaths registered during the month of February
was 36, rather under the average. The Parish is remarkable free
from all epidemic diseases.
Yours respectfully,
March,, 1861. W. MURDOCH.
SIXTY-THIRD REPORT.
grentlemen,
On Tuesday, 9th March, numerous complaints were made of
he noxious stenches arising from Globe Wharf. I went there
bout noon on the same day, and found the stenches to proceed
rom the manufacture of sulphuric acid situated on the aboveamed
premises. Sulphuric acid is generally made from the comustion
cf sulphur, and the decomposition of nitrate of soda by
eat, but in this case the manufacturer, from a motive of economy,
ad substituted for sulphur some iron pyrites, containing a very