In conclusion, I will only add that, having given my best attention to the whole subject, and carefully considered the not very formidable “objections” raised by the butchers, I have arrived at the honest conviction that no substantial grounds are therein advanced which would justify you, as the Sanitary Authority in the City of London, in varying the requirements of the Bye-laws submitted for approval to the Local Government Board, beyond the concessions herein described. Adverting to my individual action in the matter, I may here repeat that I am quite unconscious of the smallest desire to limit the usefulness or cripple the operations of an important and valuable trade, and that I have endeavoured to reconcile the desires of the occupiers of the Slaughter-houses with the imperative requirements of the public health; nevertheless, I cannot help sharing the conviction of all competent Sanitarians, that the perpetuation of densely packed Slaughter-houses in the midst of a close population, where the introduction of a sufficient supply of light, air, and ventilation, is physically impossible, was a lamentable error of legislation, which every unprejudiced observer admits will, and _must_, be remedied, whenever the exigencies of public health are allowed to outweigh the antagonism of interested and uncompromising opposition. I feel it necessary to say as much as this, since I have been credited with more than my share in the preparation of the materials upon which you have deemed it wise and expedient to frame these Bye-laws, an impression which has involved me in no small amount of abuse and obloquy. I have the honour to be, GENTLEMEN, Your obedient Servant, WM. SEDGWICK SAUNDERS, M.D., _Medical Officer of Health_. GUILDHALL, _27th June, 1876_. FOOTNOTES: [2] The “objections” are quoted in abstract only, in order to save space, but the sense of the same has been scrupulously observed. [3] In a paper on the “Influence of Occupation upon Health,” read by Mr. F. G. P. Neilson, F.S.S., before the Institute of Actuaries, and published in their Journal, July, 1872, it is shewn that in the forty years of age, 25 to 65, the mortality of butchers is 17·9 per thousand living, and that of poulterers 21·0, as against 10·6 of gardeners, 12·4 carpenters, 13·4 shoemakers, 16·8 stonemasons, &c. The results were obtained by a comparison of the whole of the mortality of England and Wales, 1860-1, with 1,147,243 years of life of members of Friendly Societies. [4] This has since been done, and a copy sent to the Local Government Board. POSTSCRIPT. Since the foregoing was written I have received copies of additional documents forwarded by the “Butchers’ Trade Society” to the Local Government Board, and, in accordance with your request, have perused and considered the same.