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28
animal. I believe there are no greater nuisances in Rotherhithe
than some of these patent manure factories, and that the lower or
eastern part of the parish will never enjoy a pure atmosphere so
long as persons are allowed to carry on there with impunity the
stinking and poisonous process of making patent manure.
Mortality of the Month.
The absolute number of deaths from all causes registered during
the month of July was forty-five; and deducting from that number
five cases of death from drowning, there remains a mortality of forty,
about three above the monthly average. Rut as I have before
stated, the death rate is not an exact representation of the health of
the place, for from the concurrent testimony of the medical practitioners
of this parish I have been led to the pleasing conclusion that
for many years, Rotherhithe, notwithstanding the great heat of the
weather, has not been so free from disease as during the last two
months The only epidemic malady prevalent appears to have been
measles, from which six deaths have been registered.
Yours respectfully,
August, 1856. W. MURDOCH.
EIGHTH REPORT.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe.
Gentlemen,
In bringing before you the various nuisances, which, during the
just elapsed month, have been examined by myself, I shall try to
be brief, as necessarily the subject matter of my Reports being
always nearly the same, admits but of little variety of detail.
At No. 58, Lower Queen Street; at No. 2, Six Houses, Trinity
Street; at Nos. 165 and 166, Rotherhithe Street, with the two
adjoining houses in Chapel Court; at No 18, Crystal Terrace: at
No. 2, Goldsworthy Place; at No. 39, Clarence Street, east side;
at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4, Cross Street, King Street, the nuisances
complained of were filthy cesspools and imperfect drainage.
At No. 145, Rotherhithe Street, and at the "Battle of the Nile,"
Upper York Street, the drains were stopped; in the latter case
causing a leakage into the cellar injurious to the health of the
inmates.
In Leopard's Court, from the stoppage of the drain, an overflow
of water had taken place, exhaling a putrid smell. The p}ace was
revisited by me on the 28th August, and the evil appeared to be
remedied.
At 395, Rotherhithe Street, a blacksmith's shop, I found a state
of things much to be condemned. At the south-east corner of the
house, on the ground floor, there stands a privy connected with a