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regard to the condition of the mews in the parish,
and the health of those who live in or near these
establishments.
During the year I have often had occasion to
call your attention to the defective arrangements
for carrying away the dust and other dry refuse
from houses. Arising from the practice, by servants
and others, of throwing all kinds of animal and
vegetable matter into the dust-bin, decomposition
of the matter, especially in summer, sets in, and the
consequence is a most disgusting effluvia is emitted,
which often becomes a source of disease. Such
refuse ought not to decompose at all, it ought not
to be allowed to remain long enough on the
premises to do so, and if by neglect it becomes
noxious, it ought to be removed at a time of the
day when it is least likely to offend and injure
those who are passing in the street.
In making these remarks I wish to state, that I
believe the removal of dust is not less attended to
in St. James's than in any other parish of London,
but I think the whole arrangement by which dust
is removed in London is clumsy, dirty, and unhealthy.
Dust should be removed from every
house once in every two or three days; it should
be removed before eight o'clock in the morning in
the winter, and seven in the summer; it should be
removed in covered carts, by skilful men, who
should in no way be allowed bribes for the performance
of their duty. I believe that all these