London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1869
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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pollution may, and does, under certain conditions favourable
to the development of living organisms, become
dangerous for human consumption.
Dr. Frankland in his last Report, furnished at the
request of the Registrar-General, and published in the
last annual summary of the Weekly Returns of Mortality,
expresses a most decided opinion tha,t the water supplied
to many parts of the Metropolis, especially that delivered
to the South and South-West Districts, is still very
imperfectly filtered, and he publishes tables which in every
way makes good his assertion.
On twelve occasions samples were, not long since, drawn from the Companies' Mains and submitted to careful examination, with the following results:—
| Thames. | Number of occasions when clear and transparent | Number of occasions when slightly turbid | Number of occasions when turbid | Number of occasions when very turbid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Middlesex | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Junction | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Other Sources. | ||||
| New River | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| East London | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Kent | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |