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Nos. 19, 20 and 26, Richmond-street; 17 persons reside in these houses, making a total of 84 persons who
were using the water from the same source.
About 20 feet distance from the well there are three water-closets and a large urinal, and about ten
feet distant a second water-closet; these are the only sanitary conveniences on the premises. On July 3rd,
a case of typhoid fever was notified, occurring in a lad 14 years of age, residing at 15, Wellesley-street;
July 29th a man aged 26, also of 15, Wellesley-street, was certified to be suffering from continued fever
Inquiries showed that both these patients were employed on the upper floor of the factory, 25, Richmondstreet,
also that two other men were absent from work through illness, the nature of which was not then
ascertained, as their places of residence were unknown. On August 3rd I obtained a sample of the
water from a draw tap on the ground floor, and sent it to Mr. Stokes for analysis. On the 5th he
furnished the accompanying certificate— " * * * I am of opinion that the water has become contaminated
with surface drainage, and that it is not safe water for drinking purposes. It would be advisable to
prohibit such water being used for drinking."
Notice was thereupon served on the owners of the premises to discontinue the use of the water for
drinking purposes, and the work necessary for obtaining a supply of water from the New River
Company's mains was at once proceeded with and completed on August 20th.
In the meantime the lad aged 14 (first case notified) died, the cause being certified as typhoid fever.
On August 16th, case No. 2 was removed from his home to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, it was then
certified as a case of enteric fever, and the patient died August 24th.
I have seen the two men whose addresses could not at the time of my visit to the factory be
ascertained. One of them was absent from work four weeks, and the other about ten days. The medical
man who attended the former informs me that although he was unable to identify the illness with
enteric fever, he has no doubt it was in great measure caused by the use of water from a polluted source,
in the second of these cases the man was treated at his home for febrile catarrh. On the Wednesday
last, September 6th, I received a certificate notifying that a girl 14 years old, residing at 19, Richmondstreet
(one of the houses supplied from the well in question) was suffering from enteric fever. Upon
enquiry 1 learned that the patient had been ill for four weeks, but the medical men under whose care she
had been were unable to satisfy themselves as to the nature of the complaint until after a consultation
which took place on the 5th instant.
In view of the result of the analysis of the water in the last case I caused samples to be obtained
from the two other wells mentioned in the first part of this report, and forwarded the same to Mr.
Stokes, and his certificate is as follows— " * * * On consideration of these facts I am of opinion that the
water 101a is a moderately good sample of drinking water. In its present state no ill effect could be
anticipated from the use of such a supply. There is no evidence of any sewage contamination. Sample
102a is quite unfit for drinking purposes ; it is evidently largely contaminated with sewage or surface
drainage, and should certainly not be used at all for drinking purposes or for cleaning out any vessels
that may be used to contain food."
The sample identified in the certificate as 101a was obtained from No. 2 well, said to be a tube well,
depth unknown. It is situated on the premises of a clothworker, &c., 136, Old-street. It is the only
source of water supply on the premises, where about 20 persons are employed. All the water, however,
from the well passes through a filter before it can be used.
Sample 102a, of which such a bad report appears in the certificate, was obtained from well No. 3.
This is also said to be a tube well about 25 feet deep. It is situated at 138, Lever-street, in the occupation
of a tripe dresser, &c. On my visit to the premises I was informed that the well water was only used
for " cooling the various articles after cooking, the water for the latter purpose being obtained from the
New River Company, and from which source there was an ample supply on the premises."
On receipt of Mr. Stokes' certificate in this case, I also caused a notice to be served on the owners
to forthwith discontinue the use of the water from the polluted well for drinking purposes or the
preparation of any article of food, and am informed that since the receipt of the notice all dressing,
cooking, &c., has been done at other premises belonging to the firm. Nevertheless, seeing the nature of
the business, and that they have a supply of pure water, I strongly recommend the vestry to proceed, if
necessary, with steps to obtain an order for closing this well, and in accordance with the vestry's
resolution the well has since been filled in.
Since furnishing the list of wells to the County Council last October, I have learned of the existence
of four other wells in the parish, two being situated on premises belonging to Messrs. Le Grand Sutcliffe
of Bunhill-row, well sinkers, &c., and two on those of Messrs. Allen and Sons, drug grinders, 7, Cowperetreet.
These are all artesian wells, from 175 to 345 feet in depth, and although the water is used by the
employees of each firm for drinking purposes, its chief use is that of supplying power for machinery,
and having in view the depth of the borings, and the comparatively recent construction in each case,
I have not thought it necessary to have the water analysed.
Another reference to water as a source of enteric fever is found in the report of the medical
officer of health of Plumstead. Dr. Davies states that—
In former years it has been possible to trace most of the cases of enteric to infection caught outside
the parish, but not so this year. In fact, in the case of all the men employed in the arsenal, I could find
no likely source of infection, but the conclusion seems to me irresistible that the source, whatever its
nature, was inside the arsenal. Within the last week a case has occurred in which the patient stated
that he was in the habit of drinking water used for an engine, and drawn from the arsenal canal. I have
also been informed that it is no uncommon practice to drink the water of this canal. As this water is
liable to be polluted with the excreta of labourers working in its vicinity, it is very likely to contain the
infection of enteric fever. If men are so foolish as to drink this impure water, the arsenal authorities
cannot be blamed for the result, provided they supply sufficient sources of pure water. I may add that
I have been in communication with the director-general on the subject of enteric fever in arsenal
employees ; he instituted an enquiry, and the senior medical officer reported that there were no conditions
in the arsenal likely to give rise to enteric.

The increase in 1893 is no deubt due to the higher temperature of the summer quarter of that year.
* See footnote (†), page 6.