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Dr. Nicholas, in reference to the above table, makes the following
remarks :—
"Surface Wells.—These furnish the principal supply to the parish. The samples were
taken from different parts of the parish, as far apart as possible. They are seen to be,
"without exception, excessively polluted. This is scarcely to be wondered at, when we
consider the conditions affecting these falsely-named spring waters.
"The great majority of these wells are simply holes in the ground, made for intercepting
the surface water in its passage through the soil towards its complete filtration
at a much lower level. If no other circumstances were in operation such water would
simply be imperfectly filtered surface water; but when we reflect that the soil through
which it percolates is of a loose gravelly nature, riddled all over with cesspools, and
liable to every impregnation which can affect its surface derived unceasingly from town
life; and that the nature of water is to absorb any soluble substance with which it
comes in contact, we can realize some of the enormity of the pollution to which such
water is subject. It would be as reasonable to expect to derive wholesome water from
the filtering beds of one of the water companies between the strata of which was
interposed a layer of town ordure, as from these wells. The conditions, differing only
in degree, are parallel in both cases."
Dr. Whiteman, Medical Officer of Health for Putney, has also
given his attention to this subject. lie states in his report for
1856
"Although much of the well water in this sub-district is pure and wholesome,
compared with that which several of my colleagues have given me to understand is
obtainable by the inhabitants of some of the neighbouring parishes, there is a good
deal that is most decidedly bad, and some that is quite unfit for drink or to be used
for culinary purposes. In 1854 Dr. Hassall kindly examined with me many of the well
and other waters of this parish, and the results of both the microscopical and chemical
investigations then made have since been published in the general report on the
cholera epidemic of 1854, laid before Parliament by the Board of Health. The
following are a few extracts from Dr. HassaH's contribution to that Report.
No. 6.—From Pump iu Cock's Buildings, Putney.—Collected 8th October, 1854, by Dr.
Hassall and Dr. Whiteman.
"This water, during the prevalence of cholera in Putney, was of a decided green
colour, as was observed by the inhabitants of the many houses supplied by it; this
appearance had gone off somewhat at the period when the specimen was obtained, at
which time cholera was also on the decline, but still it was of a greenish hue, as was
clearly seen when the water was poured out into a glass tumbler; scarcely any sediment
was deposited, and there was discovered, in the little that was thrown down, four or five
oxytriehsæ, one or two parainecia, masses and threads of the spiral vibrio, which exhibits
a dotted appearance at each turn of the spire, and rather many monads. This water,
from its appearance and from the account given of it, was evidently contaminated by
percolation from a neighbouring cesspool, and the principal part of the organic matter
present was in the fluid state, and in the form of nitrates. See Dr. Thomson's analysis."
No. 7.—From Pump in Price's Folly, Putney.—Collected 8th October, 1854, by Dr.
Hassall and Dr. Whiteman.
"This water resembled the preceding in colour and appearance, but was still deeper;
the source of contamination was also the same, namely, a neighbouring cesspool. Very
little sediment wa3 deposited, enough only to be just visible to the naked eye, in a thin
glass cell; it contained a considerable number of actinophrydes, some of the spiral
vibriones before referred to, a few euglense, one or two small paramecia, a few small
sporules and threads of fungus, and eight or ten frustules of different diatomaceae,
including navicula and gomphonema; lastly, there were a few green circular sporules
aggregated into little masses, and motionless. See Dr. Thomson's analysis."
No. 8.—From Pump at 19, Stratford Grove, Putney.—Collected 8th October, 1854, by
Dr. Hassall and Dr. Whiteman.
"This water was coloured like the others, but the people of the house from which it
was procured fancied that it was contaminated by leakage from a gas-pipe, which however
is some distance away from it, nevertheless there is much reason to believe that
the explanation given is correct, as there is no cesspool near, and as the water was
always good until the gas-pipe was laid down. The sediment deposited was scarcely
perceptible, and in it a few monads, vibriones, and sporules of fungus only were
discovered."