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an open drain was all that would stand; the water-butt lids,
and even the butts themselves, as well as the boards of
palings and hoardings, were used as firewood; dogs, fowls, and
donkeys all formed part of the inhabitants; no chimneys were
ever swept, so that the rooms were quite black, and the occupants
were smoked, and acquired such peculiar complexions, that I
always thought they were really "smoked" as any haddock.
The vegetables were stored on each side of the drain, along
which the slops and excrement flowed, there being no back
yards; the fruits being often stored under the beds. Of course,
the cholera played havoc in these courts; but they are gone, the
inspections are over, and I am sure the Sanitary Committee will
rejoice that their unfruitful labours have come to an end in this
quarter.
During the year, especially in the summer, the courts and
alleys, the gullies, urinals, &c., were frequently disinfected with
carbolic acid-water and powder, the carbolic carts being sent
round the parish for this purpose; and the acid was largely
given away, in cases where infectious diseases occurred, to those
who could not afford to purchase it.
Complaints having been made early in the year that great
nuisance arose from the offensive emanations evolved from
"sweep-burning," and foul "haud-watars," a bill was distributed
among all the workers in the precious metals, aud those
concerned in these matters, directing their attention to the
necessity of avoiding such evils, aud the methods of best preventing
them.
At every house where infectious disease is known to occur,
handbills are left, containing instructions as to the use of disinfectants,
and the best methods of preventing the diffusion of the
disease.
Nuisances Removed.—The removal of nuisances during
the year has consisted in the disinfection and cleansing of rooms
and houses in which infectious diseases have occurred; the