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67
Mr. X., and it may look heavier than it really deserves, for the
reason that possibly prior to and during my enquiries certain households
changed their milk supply, and the name given to the
Inspector would be the one then supplying the house. While this
may apply to some extent to area "A," I do not think it applies to
area "B." The enquiries were made here before those in the other
locality, and the occupants of the houses were of a class not to
readily take alarm, or to recognise the ability of milk to cause illness.
But making every allowance, these tables show an undue incidence
of throat illness upon the customers of X over the customers of
other dealers. Table "A" shows in the first place that the percentage
of households supplied by X in that area falls very far short
of 85 per cent. of the total, being a little over 14 per cent., and even
if allowance is made for considerable losses of customers the incidence
of disease would be out of all proportion to his supplies. Further,
area "A" shows that while the incidence of throat illness is 29 per
cent: amongst X's customers, it is only 2 per cent. amongst all the
remaining dealers. In area " B " the respective percentages of throat
illness are X's 14.2, others 0.0.
The percentages of sore-throat illness in these tables are calculated
on the basis of the total number of households supplied by X, and
other Vendors in special areas ; and these percentages show that in
the two areas selected, and they may, I think, be taken as fairly
representative, sore-throat disease has fallen with special severity on
X's customers. Viewing the whole of the evidence at my disposal,
I am forced to the conclusion that X's common supply, and the
presence of sore-throat disease of a septic kind are related together
in the way of cause and effect.
Conclusions.—From a consideration of the whole of the circumstances,
I arrive at the following conclusions:—
(i) That sore throat disease of a septic character has recently
existed almost exclusively in the northern part of
Hackney.