1805.] 



Proceedings t>J Learnt A Soctettes, 



343 



ignorance, or Jealoufy, continue to main- 

 tain a difadvantageous ftruggle againft 

 innumerable obftacies, by which their 

 growth is oppofed. 



To arrive at the true folution of the 

 problem, the Report takes a view of the 

 feveral arts againft which a clamour has 

 been raifed, and it dividts them into two 

 clafles. The firft comprifes all thofe, the 

 procefles of which allow aeriform emana- 

 tions to efcape from them into the fur- 

 rounding atmofphere, either in confe- 

 quence of putrefaftion or fermentation. 

 The fecond clafs includes thofe, in which 

 the aitift, operating by the aid of fire, de- 

 velopes and evolves in air, or vapour, va- 

 rious principles, which are moie or lefs 

 difagreeable to refpire, and reputed m;)re 

 or lefs injurious to health. 



After having examined the nature of 

 the principal manufaftories againft which 

 confiderable prejudice has been excited at 

 different times, and in different places, 

 the Reporters infer that there are hut few, 

 the vicinity of which it dangerous to 

 health. " Hence," fay they, " we can- 

 not too ftrongly exhort thofe magiftrates 

 who have the health ard faftty of the uub- 

 Jic committed to their charge, to difre- 

 gard unfounded complaints, which are 

 too fiequently brought againft different 

 eftablifhments, daily threaten the prof- 

 ptrity of the honcft ma;uifa61urer, check 

 the ptogrefs of induftry, and endanger 

 the fate of the art iiielf. 



The msgiftrate ought to be on his 

 guard againft the proceedings of a refilefs 

 and jealous i;eip;libour, he ihould careful- 

 ly dill inguifb between what is only difa- 

 greeahle or inconvenient, from what is 

 dangerous or injurinui to health ; in fhort, 

 he ftiould be fuliy aware of this truth, that 

 by iiftening to complaints of this naiure, 

 not only would the eftablinmient of feve- 

 ral uleful arts in Fi:mce be prevented, 

 but we fhould infenfibly driVe out of our 

 cities, the farriers, carpenters, joiners, 

 biafiers, coopers, founders, weavers, and 

 all thofe occupations which are more or 

 lefs dilagrceable to their neighbours. The 

 right of toler:i(ion has been eftabliflied by 

 time and nectflity; let us not doubt there- 

 fore, hut our marufacliires, when grown 

 older, and better known will peaceably 

 enjr-y the fime advantage in fociety ; in 

 lilt niea)i time we are of opinion, that the 

 claf» ougSt to avail itielf of this circimi- 

 itance, to put them in a particular man- 

 ner under tiie proteff ion of government, 

 and declare publicly that the manufailure 

 •f acids, fal-ammoniac, PruflTian blue, 



fugar of lead, white lead, ftarch, beer, 

 and leather, as well as flaughter houfes, 

 are not injurious to the health of the vici- 

 nity when they are properly condufied. 



We cannot fay as much for the (leeping 

 of hemp, making catgut, layftalls, and, 

 in general, eftablifhments where a large 

 quantity of animal and vegetable matter 

 is fubjeft to humid putrefaftion : in all 

 thefe cafes, befides the difagreeable fraeil 

 which they exhale, miafmata, more orleis 

 deleterious, are evolved. 



We muft add, that, though the matni- 

 faflories of which we have already fpoken, 

 and which we have confidereil as not in- 

 jui ious to the health of the neighbourliooi, 

 ought not to be remived, yet adminiflra- 

 tion (houldherequt'fted to watch over them 

 itriftly, and confult with we'1-infoimsd 

 perfons for prefcribing to the condudVors 

 the moft proper meafnres f ;r preventing; 

 their fr.oke and fniell from being diffuled 

 in the vicinity. This end may be attain- 

 ed by improving the proctfies of the mano- 

 faftures, railing the outer walls, fo that 

 the vapours may not be diffu'ed among 

 the neighbours ; improving the manage, 

 mer.t of the fires, which may be done to 

 fucli a point, that all ths fmoke fliail be 

 burnt in the fire-place, or dep.ifited in 

 the tunnels of long chimnies ; and main- 

 taining the utmoft clcanlinels in the muia- 

 faftories, ib that nothing finll be left (» 

 putrify in them, and all the refufe capable 

 of fermentation be loft in deep wells, and 

 prevented from any way incommoding the 

 neighbours. 



Wk fhall obferve too, that when new 

 inanufaftrrlcs of Prufiian blue, fal-wn- 

 moniac, leather, ttarch, or any other ar- 

 ticle, by which vapours, very inconvenient 

 to the neighbours, or danger of fire oc 

 explolions, are to be efiablilhed, it wouJd 

 be wife, juft and prudent, to lay it 

 clown as a principle, that they are not to 

 be admitted into cities, or near dwellings, 

 without fpecial authority ; and that if per- 

 fons negle<5l to comply with this indifpen- 

 fable condition, their manufa6lories may 

 be ordered to be removed without any ia- 

 demnificatlon. 



It follows from our report; ift. Thai 

 catgut manufa£lories, layftalls, fteepinj 

 of hemp, and every eftablifhment in which 

 animal or vegetable matters are heaped 

 together to putrify in larj^e quantities, aie 

 injurious to health, and ought to be remote 

 from towns and every dwelling houfe. 

 adiy. Thit mamififlories where difagree- 

 able fmells are occalioned through the ac- 

 tion of fi.e, as in the making of acids, 

 •Pruiiian 



