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14
Crypt, when a letter was read from Dr. Pakes giving the chemical
analyses of the air in the Crypt and in the Church, showing that these
airs were purely normal.
Dr Pakes's formal report was received and submitted to the
Vestry on the 24th May, from which it appeared that Carbon dioxide
was found to be present in the Church to the extent of only 0.404
parts per thousand parts of air, which would compare favourably with
some of the best air in London. The air in the Crypt contained
1.206 parts of Carbon-dioxide per thousand parts of air.
The bacteriological analyses showed that the number of organisms
per cubic metre found in the Church was 22,000, but apart from
a few moulds, a fair number of oidia, a considerable number of
torn Ice, no organs resembling any of the common pathogenic ones
could be discovered. In the Crypt 16,500 organisms per cubic metre
were found. Four-fiths consisted of moulds, oidia, torulas and
parcinse; the remaining one-fith consisted of bacteria, among which
no pathogenic bacteria could be discovered.
In the opinion of the Vestry this report showed that there was
no cause for the interference of the Home Office, and a copy of the
report was accordingly directed to be forwarded to the Home
Secretary.
On the 28th June, a letter was read to the Vestry from the
Home Office, stating that the Home Secretary had decided to advise
the Queen in Council, to make an Order for the removal of the human
remains from the Crypt. A resolution was then adopted by the
Yestry that, "as the elected Representatives of the Parishioners of
St. George the Martyr, Southwark," they regretted the action taken
by the Home Secretary with regard to the Crypt, without first giving
the Sanitary Authority of the District, an opportunity of being heard,
and requested that a Deputation from the Yestry on the subject
should be received by the Secretary of State.
A further letter was received from the Home Office, asking for
the observations of the Vestry upon the question, before the Home
Secretary decided whether he would or would not receive the Deputation.
Tothis letter the "Vestry replied by a communication pointing out
that in their opinion the length and period which had elapsed since