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company with Mr. Sanders, the Inspector, I examined the privies
of 380 and 381, Rotherhithe Street, tenanted by Messrs. Clark and
Newham; also those of Nos. 2 and 3, on the east side of Clarence
Street, tenanted by Collins and Smith. They were all in a filthy
state, and at Collins' the privy being near the house, the soil was
overflowing into the cellar. I had previously attended bad cases
of fever in this house. Notices to the landlords were served next
day on the premises.
On the 22nd January I visited alone the house, 20, Lower Queen
Street, tenanted by Deane; the soil of the privy was running down
the yard and emitting nauseous effluvia. The same state of things
existed in the two adjacent houses, 21 and 22. A notice was next
day served.
Water Supply.
The water supplied by the Water Companies in the eastern and
western divisions of Rotherhithe, is of good quality; but the landlords
have but very partially availed themselves of the facility
afforded of obtaining water. Many of the houses, particularly in
the eastern division, have no water laid on, and some of the inhabitants
are still drinking water dipped from the Thames.
Factories.
It was not originally my intention to mention in this Report any
of the factories or chemical works carried on in the parish of
Rotherhithe, but in consequence of a letter written to me by the
Clerk of the Vestry, Mr. Hawks, complaining of certain nuisances
at the Surrey Consumers' Gas AVorks, in Rotherhithe Street, I
proceeded there on the 23rd January, at noon, accompanied by the
Inspector, Mr. Sanders, and having obtained leave from the Secretary
of the Company, Mr. Boddy, went on to examine the works.
The former Engineer to the Company, Mr. Gr. Anderson, and the
present foreman, Mr. Hunter, went round with us.
Hitherto no means have been discovered by which gas works can
be carried on without emitting offensive effluvia.
The nuisances complained of, however, were the following:—
1. The manufacture of the sulphate of ammonia. Sulphuric acid
is mixed in a closed vessel with crude ammoniacal gas liquor, the
unpurified gas passing through the mixture to part with any
ammonia it may still contain. The mixture is afterwards brought
up into three shallow evaporating vessels, about nine or ten inches
deep, each being about 18 feet long; one is 4½, another 3, and the
third 2½ feet wide, or thereabouts—to be evaporated. During the
evaporation sulphuretted gases are given off into the air, but not in
large quantity. The rising steam had an acid reaction, reddening
litmus paper, but did not blacken white paper impregnated with a
solution of acetate of lead. When I visited the works, the process