London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Rotherhithe 1868

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]

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18
Complaints having been made of the inefficiency of the light given by the public lamps,
more particularly by those situate in the eastern division of the parish, the Vestry in
November, 1868, and again in January, 1869, caused the Directors of the Surrey Consumers'
Gas Company to be written to on the subject, since which a number of the lamps have been
supplied with new burners, and other alterations have been from time to time made thereto
by the Company, which has caused the lighting of the parish generally to be more
satisfactory.
Cleansing, Watering, &c.
The Contract with Mr. Joseph Parsons still continues for the supply of men, horses, and
carts, at per day, for man, horse and cart, for the cartage of the cleansings from the Main
Roads (after the same have been swept up by the labourers employed by the Vestry) to a
shoot provided by the Vestry.
Mr. Alfred Thomas Hobman is the Contractor for removing the cleansings from the
streets, other than the Main Roads, for the general cartage of material; also for the supply of
horses, harness, and drivers to the Vestry's Water Carts.
Dusting
Mr. Joseph Parsons is the Contractor for removing the dust, ashes, &c., from the
dwellings of the inhabitants, and out of the parish, (for particulars of Contract, see page 8).
Removal of Nuisances' Proceedings, &c.
147 notices have been served in duplicate, under the " Nuisances' Removal Act," upon
complaints made by the Medical Officer of Health and Inspector of Nuisances, 41 of which
have been effectually abated by the provision of proper drainage from the houses to covered
sewers, and the remainder have been abated by the removal of the cause of the nuisance.
Fifteen notices to make drains from dwelling houses to covered sewers, and 17 notices
to provide proper ashpits and water supply to closets, have been served in duplicate by order
of the Vestry, and the Owners of the property have, in each case, properly complied
therewith.
Fifteen notices were, in September last, received from Butchers and others, of their
intention to apply to the Special Sessions for licenses for their Slaughter-houses, and the same
having been severally inspected by the Medical Officer of Health, the Vestry opposed Mr.
Spencer's application for his Slaughter-house, Seven Step Alley, in consequence of the complaints
made of the nuisance arising therefrom by the boiling of offal, &c., on the premises,
and the Magistrates accordingly refused to grant a license for the same; but the other 14
Slaughter-houses were all duly licensed as heretofore.
The four cow houses, heretofore licensed in this parish, were, in October last, re-licensed
by the Magistrates, there being no fresh application.

Materials used in repairing roads :—

Broken Guernsey Granite1795cubic yards.
Ditto Bombay stone397„ „
Ditto Common stone (various)101„ „
Gravel and Hoggin248„ „
Ground and stone carted2763loads.
Blue has time4sacks.
Grey stone lime12cubic yards.
Portland cement2casks.

Slop carted:—

Parish roads1714yards.
Main3039