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Of the 190 cases, the source of which was not traced, and which,
therefore, might have been water-borne infection, 136 live within
the area of the "Croydon" supply, and 54 in the " Lambeth " area.
The enteric fever incidence in the two areas was, therefore, 11 per
10,000 in the "Croydon" area, and 14 per 10,000 in the " Lambeth "
area for the nine years. The numbers for both water supplies are
small, and conclusively disprove the suggestion that there has been
any water-borne epidemic in Croydon during recent years.
When the ligures for 1909 are examined separately it is found
that of the 14 cases, for which no definite cause could be assigned,
all were in the Croydon area.
When the numbers of cases of enteric fever are so small as they
were in Croydon in 1909, the question of a water epidemic does not
arise, but knowing what we do of the potential dangers of water
infection, it is still essential that the efforts made by the Water
Committee to further safeguard the public supplies should be in no
way relaxed.
Investigation was also made into the sanitary condition of all
premises in which cases of enteric fever occurred, which could not be
traced to infection outside the borough. As the numbers for 1909
are small, particulars have been extracted for the five years
1905—1909.
ENTERIC FEVER.