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2.—Power vested in the Medical Officer of Health, to order the
removal from inhabited houses of the bodies of persons who have succumbed
to certain infectious diseases.
3.—Power to enforce the disinfection of the bodies of persons who
have succumbed to certain infectious diseases, by the application of charcoal
or other means pending interment.
It would also be very desirable, for local authorities to provide means
for the purification by heat, &c., of infected bed-linen and clothes.
The Gas. As chemical Examiner—the Medical Officer of Health
reports:—from April 1864 to April 1865, 43 separate testings were
made of the illuminating power of the Independent Company's Gas.
The observations were made under the conditions of the Act of Parliament.
The minimum illuminating power was 12.1 candles, the maximum
15.7 candles, the average 13.6. The requisite power being 12 candles.
More frequent observations were made as to the purity of the Gas. On the
20th December, 1864, and previously to that date, the gas was free from
Sulphuretted Hydrogen. On the 27th December, I detected this impurity
in large quantity. It continued until the 31st; and for some days
later, traces of sulphuretted hydrogen could be detected in burners at a
distance from the works. Ammonia has hardly ever been absent, and it
is almost always found in large proportion. The pressure has been generally
2 inches or a little more after dark.
The contamination with sulphuretted hydrogen occuring in December,
led the Vestry to memorialise the Home Secretary, requesting him
to exercise the power vested in him, under the gas act, 23rd and 24th
Vict. Chap. 125, (1860,) to appoint an Inspector to examine the Works
of the Company. The Home Secretary appointed Dr. Letheby, who
attended by myself, and the Engineer to the Company examined the
works of the Independent Company on the 19th of January, 1865. I
append his report, made to Sir George Grey. Since the date of that report
no sulphuretted hydrogen has been detected, but there has been little
or no improvement in respect to the contamination with Ammonia. There
are gas-works in the country where this impurity is completely taken
out. It must be considered as evidence that the best appliances for purifying
gas are not yet in operation at the Independent works.