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49
of the Battersea reservoirs with the tidal portion of the
river) improved and extended its filtering apparatus, and
during the last four months of the year (1869) it stipplied
perfectly clear and transparent water." In the same
report, however, is to be found a table showing the
number of samples out of a total of twelve, in which
living organisms were found in the water supplied by the
several Metropolitan Companies during the past year, and
in this table the Southwark Company's water is not set
down as being very conspicuous for its comparative
purity. *
The Rivers Pollution Commission say, and with much
truth, "There is reason to believe that the excrementitious matters which exist in sewage mixed with water,
even in the minutest portions, is likely by such properties,
to spread particular diseases amongst populations which
drink the water." So long, then, as there exists a possibility
of infectious properties being possessed by water
furnished to the inhabitants of a district, eo long ought
those inhabitants to keep up that amount of agitation
which is likely to secure them, by legislative interference,
a better and purer supply. The agitation also of the
question of a continuous supply of water for domestic and
other purposes, in place of the irregular one, now and for
years past so greatly complained of, commends itself to
all sanitary authorities, as well as to all consumers of this
indispensable necessary of life
Commons and Open Spaces.—The sanitary history of
this Sub-district, which I have attempted to embody in

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