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55
keeping, as carried on in this District, utterly irrespective
of position, density of population, and other Sanitary
conditions, demands the serious consideration of the
Board.
The Cow-houses and Slaughter-houses were all
examined previously to a renewal of their owners' licenses,
and found in a very satisfactory condition.
There is the same general complaint by the inhabitants
of the town of the very serious nuisance arising
from the Sewer gases which escape from the ventilators
of the main sewers. With reference to this great intrinsic
defect of the present system of drainage, I beg to
reproduce an Extract from my Report for the year 1807 :
" A sufficient and continuous flow of water is what is
most needed for the prevention of the evil, and which
would reduce the necessity for ventilation to a minimum,
not only by a more rapid removal of the sewage, but by
the absorption of gases and the prevention of decomposition.
For it is evident that water being the vehicle
which has taken the place of the horse and cart of the
old system, forms the most important element in the
present system of sewerage, and to be efficient in the
performance of the work assigned to it must be of sufficient
quantity for the purpose."
GEORGE EDWARD NICHOLAS, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth.