The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-01 00:00:00

WEEKLY REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.

Dr. Letheby read the following report :
" To the Hon. the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of

London.

"Gentlemen,—The inspectors' return s relate to 254 houses
that have been visited during the last week, and I beg to
submit a list of places that require your orders for their
sanitary improvement in various particulars.
" The mortality-table for the week shows a small increase
in the death-rate as compared with that of the last fort-
night. The total number of deaths for the week is 55, of
which 23 were among children of under 10 years of age.
The chief causes of death were consumption, measles,
small-pox, and choleraic diarrhoea of children.
" In respect of Fox and Knot court, which was the sub-
ject of reference last week, I have to state that it was
thoroughly inspected about 10 days ago by Mr. Ternouth,
and orders were issued for such improvements as the place
will admit of. It is, however, a very wretched locality,
and the houses are in such a dilapidated state that they
must ere long be brought under the notice of the district
surveyor. I find here, as elsewhere, a common complaint
of the short supply of water; in fact, ever since the new
regulations of the water companies have come into opera-
tion the poor of this and other such localities have been in
a miserable plight. They complain that the water is
turned on very early in the morning, and for so short a
time that they have not an opportunity of collecting
enough for their commonest wants. The necessity for re-
medying this is becoming very urgent.
A. complaint has been made to me by some of the inha-
bitants of Philpot-lane of a great annoyance to which they
are subjected by the fumes of burning sulphur; and, on
inquiry, I find that these are several spice merchants in the
neighbourhood who employ large quantities of sulphur in a
state of combustion for bleaching ginger, coriander seeds,
and white pepper. I need not tell you that the fumes of
burning sulphur are exceedingly offensive, and, I may add,
that they are very destructive of property. Experiment
has shown that they are injurious to animal life, and that
they will kill plants when the vapours are dilated with
10,t00 times their volume of air. The vapours are likewise
so heavy that, although every precaution is taken to diffuse
them into the atmosphere by carrying on the bleaching
operations at the top of high warehouses, yet the suffocat-
ing gas descends in calm weather by reason of its own gra-
vity, and is thus the souree of considerable annoyance. I
am not acquainted with any remedy for this short of dis-
continuing the whe'e process, and this, I am told, would
soon be the case if the public would cease to call for tho.a
aitmcial conditions as regards appearances which are se
hurtful in every way. In order to remove the yellow colour
which ginger naturally possesses, and which is by no means
disagreeable, it must be steeped for hours in a solution of
oil of vitriol and chloride of lime, then exposed to the
fumes of burning sulphur, and finally dried. The coriander
seeds, which are used for confectionary and for flavouring
gin, are subjected to a somewhat similar process; and in
all of these cases the strength and flavour of the spice are
considerably damaged. I cannot, therefore, but regard
these processes as sophistications which ought to be die•
continued.—l have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
your obedient servant,
" HENRY LETITEBT, M. 8.,
"Officer of Health for the City of London.
"Guildhall, July 29."
The Chief Clerk was directed to send a copy of that
part of the report relating to the deficient supply of
water to the city to the Secretary of State for the Home
Department.

The Court, after inflicting severe penalties on several
of the contractors for cleansing the public thoroughfares
for neglect of duty, adjourned during the holidays.