A letter to the vestry of St. George's, Hanover Square, on sanitary work and experience in Belgravia / by C.J.B. Aldis.

  • Aldis, C. J. B. (Charles James Berridge), 1808-1872.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to the vestry of St. George's, Hanover Square, on sanitary work and experience in Belgravia / by C.J.B. Aldis. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    There was also much stagnant water, containing dead dogs, occasioning an offensive smell. A watchman was ap- pointed at my suggestion, to prevent the deposit of night-soil, lime was strewed over some parts, and the ponds filled. The Government has recently made two new roads, which have already mucli improved the sanitary condition of this locality. Among the odours of London, those emitted in rag shops, or the houses of marine-store dealers, are about the most dan- gerous. Such pestiferous spots contain fat of the worst des- cription, which certain cooks have carefully collected until it becomes rancid, or almost unbearable, in their masters’ houses, then they sell it at these places, where it is kept and produces one of the vilest stinks imaginable. Besides this, a dreadful smell proceeds from accumulated bones, which may be per- ceived through the gratings of the area by pedestrians, “ scenting the morning air,” should the cellar door he left open. Again, the musty smell from filthy rags, old clothes closely packed in the front shop and back parlour, where perhaps some of the family sleep, may, altogether, produce what has been termed a “ deadly smell,” particularly after the house is closed at night, and every kind of ventilation stopped. But this is not all; the fat remains to be sold, not such fat as that used by respectable wholesale houses, which, during the melting process is endurable compared with the most offensive grease sold by the mai’ine-store dealer. The method of selling it requires notice. The purchaser’s open cart arrives with open tubs containing “ kitchen stuff,” which offends the noses of the neighbours who may be at breakfast with open windows. The cart may remain half-an-hour or more while the fat is being carefully scraped from one tub into another to prevent imposition—in case the seller should have added other ingredients in order to increase the weight.