[Report 1856-1857].

  • Bermondsey (London, England). Parish. Vestry.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1856-1857]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/46 (page 12)
    As there is a considerable traffic through the parish in the night fo waggons and carts, laden with the contents of cesspools, on their way to artificial manure makers, and to the waterside for shipment, which give off powerful and deleterious gases, I suggest that the owners be informed that they must either make these vehicles air-tight, or by the use of same deodoriser, mitigate the nuisance; in hot weather, and when the atmosphere is calm, which was so especially during the last cholera epidemic, very great mischief must have accrued from this cause. June 16, 1856. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, The deaths in this Parish for the week ending June 7th were 17, while for the corresponding week in 1855, they were 26, and in 1854, 24; there are two deaths from fever. Feeling the importance of correct and constant information on the subject of prevailing diseases in our several localities, I, on the 11th instant, addressed a letter to the Board of Guardians, requesting permission to inspect the books of their Medical Officers from time to time, and I thankfully acknowledge their acquiescence in this proposal, as it will greatly facilitate the performance of my duties in this very essential respect. The almost entire absence of fever, and the general healthy condition of the district, is, I trust, due in some measure to the sanitary improvements already carried out; yet, it is right to add, that the temperature is considerably below the average, and to that cause must be attributed some portion of our present advantages. My attention has on several occasions been directed to the coloured condition of the water at the public baths; after some care in the investigation, for it is a subject of general interest to the parish, I am satisfied that the yellow tinge in the water, is merely owing to the reflection of light, and in only a very slight degree, if at all, to the presence of any mechanical impurity, I would suggest the propriety of covering the cistern, as so large a surface of water must become impreg nated by the action of various floating particles in the atmosphere. On the complaint of Mr. Collins, I have inspected a ditch at the back of Corrugated Row, it is in a foul condition, is offensive in the highest degree, is the receptacle of various privies, which mixed with the drainage from Procter and 12