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25
Disinfecting Oven. Early in the year*, I directed the
attention of the Vestry to the importance of furnishing this
apparatus, with the view of destroying the infection of bedding
clothing, &c. After several meetings of the Sanitary Committee
a spot was selected, (in a rather crowded locality), the premises
taken on lease, and one of Eraser's ovens was purchased at an
expense of about £200, and erected. This was used with great
benefit, and very numerous articles were disinfected by it, dry
heat being used at a temperature of 250° Fahr. to 300°. But at
the end of about three months, the inhabitants of the surrounding
neighbourhood took alarm, and petitioned the ground landlord
of the premises, who brought an action of ejectment; and on July
11 th, the resident worker of the oven with his family and goods,
were turned into the street. Since that period, the oven has not
been used, the disinfection having been effected by sulphuring in
the infected apartments; old bedding, &c., having been burnt,
and replaced by the Vestry at the Parish expense. It is to be
hoped that this invaluable apparatus will be reinstated in some
apparently less objectionable locality. But wherever it may be
placed, it may be considered perfectly innocuous.
Slaughter-houses. These were inspected by the Sanitary
Committee and myself, prior to the licensing. They were 33,
kept by the same number of butchers. In 1870, the numbers
were 36 in each case.
The Slaughter-houses on the whole were in good order; but,
as I have often pointed out, many of them are totally unfit for
the purpose, although they have been in use many years. The
clause in the Building Act, which will come into force in 1874,
keeping them at a considerable distance from public ways and
inhabited houses, will do good. The nuisance arising from the
bellowing of calves will thus be prevented ; as well as the driving
of cattle over footways.
The conditions under which the Slaughter-houses are licensed
are:—that no part of the premises used as a Slaughter-house
shall be inhabited ; that the walls be properly lime-whited twice
a-year; that the paving be laid in cement; that there be a
properly constructed drain, with a suitable trap to prevent the
animal matter from entering the drain ; that there be a proper
water supply; with receptacles for holding the garbage until its
removal; and that no accumulation of refuse be allowed upon the
premises.
* In my first Annual Report, for 1856, p. 28, I recommended the Vestry "to
provide some suitable form of bakehouse for purifying articles of clothing,
adding, &c."