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17
I am however far from contending that no pains should be taken to
abate the nuisance arising.from the stench emitted by the Thames in
dry seasons. The ultimate remedy relied upon is the interception of the
Sewage by the Main Drainage Scheme. Pending the completion of that
work, it has been felt necessary to endeavour to diminish or to destroy
the putrefactive properties of the sewage that must still be thrown into
the river. I believe that the means employed last year were to some
extent successful in deodorising the Sewage, and thus, in lessening the
offensiveness of the river. This year, experiments have been instituted
into the view of effecting a more complete deodorisation. I do not enter
with the discussion concerning the relative merits of the different
agents employed or proposed.
Under present arrangements the Vestries and District Boards are
simply called upon to pay for what others may determine to adopt. By
the plan adopted nothing seems contemplated beyond the purification of
the river. The operation upon the sewage is therefore limited to the
points of discharge. The Sewage above these points, throughout its
miles of currents, is left to putrefy and distil its noxious gases into the
air and into our houses, through gulleys, ventilating-shafts and housedrains.
This is a far more serious practical evil than the offensiveness
of the Thames. It is obviously one with which you, as guardians of the
health of Shoreditch, are more immediately concerned. I can refer to
several deaths from Scarlatina which there is the strongest evidence for
concluding, were due to the exposure to the concentrated emanations from
gulleys. Can this be remedied ? I believe it may. The deodorisation of
the Main Sewers ought to be extended to the principal branches. If a
few stations were established nearer the periphery of the sewage-system,
two beneficial effects would result: first, the fermentation and escape of
poisonous gases from the sewers at numerous points in the midst of our
habitations would be greatly prevented ; secondly, the sewage thus
partially purified would reach the deodorising stations of the Metropolitan
Board of Works near the river, in such a state as to require much less
treatment. The primary local requirements of the inhabitants living
over the sewers, and the secondary general requirements of the Metropolis
would be equally met.