Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Pollution, Public Health, Medical Practitioners, Scientific Practitioners, Crime, Controversy, Manufactories, Sanitation, Government

    Reports on the trial of Mr Salmon, a manure manufacturer accused of injuring the public's health with offensive odours from his factory. Notes that Salmon's business exploits fish-heads and garbage from slaughter-houses, and relates the testimony of the local medical officer concerning the smell. Describes the 'usual arraying of eminent "scientific witnesses"' to prove that great efforts had been made to remove the odour and that 'there were no BAD smells'. Cynically notes how sanitary officers, agricultural chemists, and chemical lecturers 'came forward to testify on behalf of Salmon and his sweetness'. Reports that the judge and jury inspected the factory and that, whatever the analytical chemist Henry Letheby may have done for manure manufacture, they were still overwhelmed by the smell. Citing the sanitary measures undertaken by James Stansfeld, Alexander J E Cockburn, and Edward H Stanley (15th Earl of Derby), believes the nation should be 'progressing fast and far on the way to that cleanliness which is next to godliness'. Laments the lack of parliamentary and public interest in 'Public Health'.