Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]
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would be a relaxation of the Referees' standard of purity, which
they cannot insist upon if it necessarily involves a nuisance. The
terms of the Act are "The Gas Referees shall from time to time
ascertain with what degree of purity the Company can reasonably
be required to make and supply gas continuously without
occasioning a nuisance to the neighbourhood in which the works
are situate, and shall thereupon prescribe and certify the maximum
amount of impurity, &c." If so, by a legal process the Company
might be able to get rid of one nuisance, by creating as alleged,
another, which process the Committee of the House of Commons
refused to sanction.
The action of the Vestry in a legal direction would necessarily
involve considerable expense, and of course such proceedings are
always uncertain. The Medical Officer and myself make no
recommendation, we simply set forth the facts of the case, and
must leave it to the Vestry to determine whether the proof of the
nuisance is sufficient, and whether any, and if so what steps
should be taken.
I am, yours obediently
E. WALKER,
Town Hall, Vestry Clerk.
July 5th, 1879.
DISORDERLY HOUSES.
Although I have issued warnings to several persons complained
of for keeping improper houses, which for the most part have had
effect, I have not found it necessary during the past year to take
proceedings against any persons for keeping brothels.
THE MORTUARY.
The provision of this place has proved to be of considerable
advantage to the Parish, and the bodies of persons from Betlinal
Green have also been admitted, under pressing circumstances,
pending the provision of a similar institution for that Parish. The
number of bodies admitted during the year was 152. No complaints
as to any annoyance or nuisance have been made.