The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

SANITARY MATTERS.

Alderman Moox said that at a previous Court it
had been referred to him, as Alderman of Portsoken
Ward, to make inquiry into the statements in a
paper presented by the inquest of the ward, com-
plaining of the existence of horrible nuisances in
several of the lanes and alleys in that crowded and in-
digent neighbourhood. He had paid immediate at-
tention to the subject, and he certainly had had to en-
counter not a little in the revolting adventure upon which
he considered it his duty to go.—(Hear, hear.) All he
could add upon the subject was, that he was astonished
how any human being could contrive to exist in the
midst of such abominations as he witnessed in the per-
formance of the melancholy duty.
The Town-Clerk then read the following report :
" In pursuance of the reference by your Lordship
and the Court of Alderman to me, as the Alderman
of the ward of Portsoken, of the several matters
contained in the presentment of the inquest of the
said ward, dated Nov. 30 last, I beg to report to
your Lordship and the Court of Aldermen that I have
personally visited and inspected the several build-
ings and places in the presentment mentioned, and
that I found the same (with the exception of the nui-
sance complained of between the Clothes Exchange in
Borer's-passage, and the nuisance in Mounts-court,
which have since been abated and removed) in
the state and condition described by the inquest in
their said presentment, and that immediate and
efficient measnres of a sanitary nature are necessary
for the preservation of the health of the large popu-
lation inhabiting the district in question; and, in
particular that landlords should be required to drain their
houses and premises into the common sewers, thatcisterns
of water, or other means should be provided by landlords,
so as to afford the occupiers of those houses a constant sup-
ply of water; that in cases of death from contagious or
epidemic diseases, the bodies should at an early period
be buried, without being removed to any dwelling-house,
and without the performance of the customary cere-
mony mentioned in the said presentment, which is
usually attended by numerous persons ; and that
dwelling-houses where death has been occasioned by
contagious or epidemic diseases, should immediately
thereafter be thoroughly cleansed, and the bed and per-
sonal linen of the deceased either destroyed or subjected
to a perfect state of purification.
" FRANCIS G. MOON."
Alderman Moor; said ho had done all in his power to
cause all the nuisances alluded to in his report to be
abated, but he apprehended that without being armed
with a Bill to make it compulsory upon landlords to
cause drains from their tenants' houses to the sewer, ho
could do but little in struggling against so serious an evil.
After some discussion on the difficulties in applying a
remedy for the evil presenting itself in so prominent a
manner, under existing circumstances, the matter was
referred to the City Solicitor, who, if he finds that the
alleged nuisance justifies an indictment, will be autho-
rised to proceed by indictment, or the other means
afforded by the more recent enactments, or both.
Alderman Moor; observed, that the Ward Clerk had
written to the landlords to do their duty in abating the
nuisances, and in every case in which the caution was
i given n vain the City Solicitor should carry out the in-
tentions of the Court in the most effectual manner.