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37
20. The fears of Cholera reaching here naturally gave rise to
a good deal of work and correspondence with the central
authorities, but at no time was there the slightest suspicion of
any case.
21. The Marsh District is always a source of anxiety owing
to the want of a relief sewer, of which I have had to complain
for many years. Fortunately during the past year, only once
has the place been flooded (Oct. 9th). I asked the Foreman of
the Roads for a short report on this matter, and the following is
an extract.—
"East Street, West Street, Woolwich Road, Troughton
"Road, and Delafield Road, and in all these places the sewage
"forced its way through the drains and flooded several of the
" houses."
22. Putting aside the question of Sewage finding its way
Into houses and yards, for many years it has been a recognized
fact that Chest diseases and particularly Phthisis are greatly
increased, if not actually produced by general dampness of the
soil—and here I should like to quote a short extract from
Professor Smith's (Woolwich) Report of 1892, with which I quite
agree.—
"I do not think it is generally recognised that Phthisis in
"a great measure belongs to the class of preventible diseases'
"and that it ii incumbent upon Sanitary Authorities to use
"every means to prevent it (i.e., dampness) unquest'onably the
"Consumption death rate of a district is a much better guide as
"to its healthiness than the ordinary zymotic death rate.
23. The every day work of the Sanitary Department has
been most efficiently carried out by the Sanitary Inspector, and
chiefly owing to the tact with which he has performed his duties
there have been much fewer cases brought before the magistrates
than there have been for many years past.