[Report 1859-1860].

  • Bermondsey (London, England). Parish. Vestry.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

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

Credit: [Report 1859-1860]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Almost all people are now agreed as to the protecting power of vaccination.—It is unnecessary for me to say one word upon that head. But I urge the necessity for re-vaccination in adults. The wonderful advantage of this practice on the Continent has been realized, more especially in Sweden and in Denmark, and also to a very marked extent in the Prussian army. I say then, let all the young be vaccinated; and if asked what I mean by the young, I would say all on the right side of 50. But we have other diseases to guard against—and it is my duty to point out to you while fully admitting our constant progress towards a satisfactory sanitary condition, that the open ditch in Blue-anchor lane is likely, and indeed certain, to become this year worse than ever, inasmuch as all the drainage from a considerable number of houses upon the spot now runs into it. If it be not practicable to at once cover in this offensive ditch, dedorization should be resorted to at an early period, to prevent miasma and disease, which otherwise will probably become developed. I have before reported on the existence of an open, filthy, and very offensive ditch by Bermondsey Wall, at the rear of some factories, and into which several privies are emptied. I trust that the Vestry will forthwith order it to be cleansed and covered. I have made repeated application for admission to the testing room of the Surrey Consumers' Gas Company, in the Railway Arcade, but without success. I have inspected the manufacturing premises at Rotherhithe, and before reporting thereupon, I purpose paying another visit. The premises occupied by Mr. Knight at St. James' Wharf, Bermondsey Wall, which are used as an artificial Manure manufactory, I have visited on several occasions. The proprietor has broken faith with me and the Vestry, as he promised that he would not continue the noxious process he carries on in these premises, but that he would remove in the course of six weeks. This was about six months ago. I advise, as the process is one injurious to health, that prompt legal proceedings should be taken upon satisfactory evidence of the continuance of the nuisance. 1 may, I trust, be permitted to urge the propriety of the prompt carrying out of the orders of the Vestry on sanitary matters, or where there are nuisances to be obviated. This would be beneficial, as proving that the Vestry are in earnest in the matter. Moreover, should our district unfortunately be afflicted with the presence of an epidemic, we should have the satisfaction of having neither per-