A common or public nuisance is the doing of some act or permitting something to exist, or omitting to do something one is in duty bound to do, which tends to the common injury, hindrance or annoyance. Thus to cause or suffer the carcass of any animal or any offal, filth or noisome substance to be collected, deposited or to remain in any place to the prejudice of others is a public nuisance.9

The term common or public nuisance is comprehensive in its meaning; it includes all disorderly inns, or ale houses, bawdy houses, gaming houses, stage plays, unlicensed booths and stages for rope dancers, mountebanks and the like;10 also trades or business of any kind which produce ill effects upon the adjacent owner of property, such as tanneries, smelting works, rendering and soap factories, slaughter houses and such other places as tend to injure and prejudice the public.11

Also the obstruction of public highways, bridges and public rivers, rendering them inconvenient or dangerous to travel over or upon is a public nuisance.12 So also the pollution of a navigable river with any filth or noisome stuff is a public nuisance.13 The throwing of any impurities or poisonous matter into the waters of any river, which render the water impure to the injury of others, is a public nuisance.14

7 Hughes' Ct. Law, Sec. 1840;

Com. vs. Huntley, 156 Mass., 236; Powell vs. Com., 114 Pa. St., 265; Powell vs. Pennsylvania, 127 U. S., 678.

8 Hughes' Cr. Law, Sec. 1841; In re Brosnahan, 4 McCrary 1; Powell vs. Com., 114 Pa. St., 265; Powell vs. Pennsylvania, 127 U. S.., 678.

9 Hughes' Cr. Law, Sec. 1891;

Seacord vs. People, 121 Ill., 629.

10 4 Blackstone Com., 168.

11 Seacord vs. People, 121 Ill., 629-635.