Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board upon a prevalence of typhoid fever locally ascribed to certain slaughter-house premises at New Brighton, near Birkenhead.

  • Spear, John.
Date:
1889
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Spear's report to the Local Government Board upon a prevalence of typhoid fever locally ascribed to certain slaughter-house premises at New Brighton, near Birkenhead. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ I think if much slaughtering were carried on there, especially of pigs, it would cause a nuisance.” As a result, the Sanitary Authority refused the licence which had been applied for, but a private communication was conveyed to Mr. Scott, the occupier, from the Health Committee, to the effect that so long as he continued to slaughter without nuisance his business would not be interfered with. This arrangement, if so if may be called, continued until the autumn of 1887, some 30 sheep and two oxen being slaughtered on the premises weekly, when in October, in consequence of the renewed complaints, some of which, as already stated, reached the Board, proceedings were taken against Mr. Scott for slaughtering without licence, and a conviction obtained. Meanwhile the Sanitary Authority had decided against the erection of a public abattoir, and now, no doubt, Mr. Scott, although allowed the use of his brother’s licensed premises at Seacombe, some two miles distant, was put to con siderable inconvenience. An agitation to secure for him the licence that had been denied was commenced, and the subject was again before the Sanitary Authority in June 1888. Mr. Salmon, the Surveyor, then advised the Authority unequivocally against the granting of a licence. In answer to questions put to him he stated that he had never said that Mr. Scott’s premises were in every way suitable for a licence. “ He said they were in an “ overcrowded neighbourhood, and if for no other reason, they were totally “ unsuitable.” The Medical Officer of Health, on the other hand, stated that he had never found the slaughter-house in question to cause any nuisance, and, asked whether he considered the situation suitable, declined, with the permission of the Chairman, to answer. It will be remembered, however, that lie had already reported the situation to be objectionable, so that it cannot be said that the Authority were left with imperfect information. At any rate, it was decided by a majority of eight to five to grant the licence. This was on June 7th, and on July 7th (after the next meeting of the Authority) the licence duly signed was forwarded to Mr. Scott. The evidence is conflicting as to whether slaughtering was commenced on the earlier or the later of these two dates, and the point is considered by the complainants as of importance, since two of the cases of typhoid fever, alleged to be due to emanations from the slaughter-house, made their appearance previous to July 7th. Mr. Scott, it appears, on June 8th wrote to the Clerk to the Sanitary Authority asking if he were then at liberty to use his slaughter¬ house, and receiving what he considered an undecided reply, resolved, so he affirms, to wait for the licence. In this statement he is supported by his slaughterman, an apprentice, the person who received garbage from his slaughter-house, and a monthly nurse employed at the time in his house. On the other hand, his next door neighbour, Mr. Dolan, whose wife sickened of typhoid fever on July 3rd, is positive that slaughtering commenced on June 12th, and produces notes which purport to be a daily record of slaughtering from June 12th to July 2nd, which are said to have been taken at the time by a shopwoman in his employment, and are vouched for by her. The amount of stock bought by Mr. Scott at this time appears to have been from 30 to 50 sheep per week, and some three oxen. The shop and dwelling-house, the former large and commodious, stand as part of a row of shops and dwellings in Victoria Boad, the main street of JNTew Brighton. The height of the houses here is about 32 feet from the ground level, and the premises at the back have become by successive additions much confined. The space from the rear main walls to the back lane measures on an average some 40 feet, but the greater part of this is now covered by various outbuildings; some being extensions from the houses in their original construction, and others stables, sheds, &c., put up for trade purposes. Taking eight houses of this row, of which Mr. Scott’s is the fifth, from Mason Street corner downwards, the following figures show approximately the amount of yard space that would have been available had the area from the main walls remained vacant, and the open space that actually exists. No. 1. Area at rear from main walls to back lane, 1,400 square feet. Uncovered yard spaces at rear, 330 square feet. No. 2. Area at rear from main walls to back lane, 528 square feet. Uncovered yard spaces at rear, 85 square feet. No. 3. Area at rear from main walls to back lane, 1,000 square feet. Uncovered yard spaces at rear, 315 square feet.
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