Hygiene: a manual of personal and public health (New Edition)Newsholme, Arthur, Sir
Science
Hygiene: a manual of personal and public health (New Edition)
Newsholme, Arthur, Sir
Hygiene; Public health -- Great Britain; Sanitation
The _leather-dresser_ only deals with “pelts,” derived from
sheep-skins; the tanner with bullocks’-hides. The skins brought from
the fellmonger to the leather-dresser are first deprived of lime,
and then soaked in a solution of dog’s dung, called “pure,” until
they become soft. In winter this “pure” solution is warmed for use.
The odour is very abominable, both from the “pure” tub, and from the
discharge of the exhausted “pure” liquid into the drain.
At each stage of _tanning_ nuisance may arise unless great precautions
are taken, as when the hides are soaked in lime and water, when the
hair is being removed, when the loose inner skin of the hide is being
removed, and especially when the hides are soaked in pits containing
pigeons’ or other dung. Nuisance may arise again during the passage of
offensive hides through the street. Cleanliness is the great rule. If
every process is carried on with due precaution, including frequent
washing out of receptacles and the free use of disinfectants, little
complaint need arise.
The manufacturers of _glue_ and _size_ boil out the gelatine from
bits of hides and “fleshings” from leather dressers and tanners,
from damaged “pelts,” ox or calves’ feet, horns, and other similar
substances. The raw material is apt to be offensive in collection or
while accumulating on the premises. The process of boiling causes
offence by the effluvia from the steam. The residue remaining after the
process is known as “scutch,” and this, unless frequently removed, is a
most serious source of nuisance.
_Prussiate of Potass_ is manufactured by heating carbonate of potass
with refuse animal matters. In order to avoid nuisance the pot in which
the boiling is done should have a pipe to conduct away the steam, first
running horizontally and then vertically down to the back part of the
fire.
_Fat-melting_ and _Dip-candle-making_, as usually carried on, give rise
to nuisance. The fat which is melted down usually comes from butchers
and marine-store dealers in a rancid or even putrid condition, and
it may be stored on the premises for some time before it is boiled.
The vapours from the melting-vat are very offensive. They should
be carried by means of a pipe down until they discharge just under
the boiler-fire. The residue from the fat-melting process (known as
“greaves”) requires frequent removal to avoid nuisance.
_Bone-boiling_, in order to extract the fat and gelatine, is most
offensive, and most difficult to deal with. After boiling, the bones
are apt to give off offensive smells. The vapours from the closed
boiler should be condensed as far as possible in a worm condenser, and
the remainder passed through a furnace fire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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