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31
OFFENSIVE AND INJURIOUS TRADES.
of this fact may be found in the gut-scraping sheds
of Harrow-alley, adjoining Butchers'-row, Aldgate;
or in the Leadenhall skin-market, contiguous to
the slaughtering places, where the stinking hides of
cattle lie for many hours together, spread out over
a large area of ground, waiting for sale, to the
great offence of the neighbourhood.
Such evils as those to which I have adverted
are inseparable from the process of slaughtering,
however carefully and cleanlily conducted ; and
they may easily be aggravated to an unlimited
extent by defects in drainage, in water-supply, or
in ventilation, or by the slovenly habits and impunctuality
of those to whom the removal of filth
and offal is intrusted.
In short, I believe it to be quite impossible, so
to conduct the process of slaughtering within the
City of London as to remove it from the category
of nuisances, or to render it harmless to the health
of the population; and I believe it to be equally
impossible, so to superintend the details of its performance,
as to prevent them, where ill-administered,
from rising into considerable and fatal
importance among the promoting causes of epidemic
and infectious disease.
It is scarcely necessary, after this expression of
my opinion, that I should say how strongly I
would recommend that measures should be taken
for the discontinuance of all slaughtering within