THE FAT OF THE LAND AND LAMBETH.
One Mr. Rhodes, of Carlisle Street, Lambeth, is summoned before the Lambeth Street Magistrate to answer for the—what shall we call it—indiscretion (?) of boiling down putrid fat on his premises to the prejudice of the health of his neighbours, causing thereby "nausea, and even vomiting." Mr. Secker turns to the wisdom of Parliament enshrined in the Nuisance Act, but found that—
"The words relating to any dwelling-house or building being found in a filthy and unwholesome condition applied not, as he took it, to places where a trade or business was carried on, but to common lodging-houses and places of that description, and the other part of the clause did not apply to the premises described."
That is, if you can make a trade of a nuisance, if you can "carry on a business" by fat-melting, the evil to the public is to be allowed because of the profit to the individual. You may turn a whole parish sick, if you can turn the penny upon their "nausea and vomiting."