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circumstances even this very minute difference might be of great importance,
but I have no reason to think it is so in the present instance.
When water is not properly stored, animal and vegetable organisms
are rapidly developed, and the water soon becomes highly charged
with organic impurities which may or may not be injurious to health.
The filth accumulates and grows in the cisterns. In the present
condition of the Southwark water, when properly filtered, and as it
flows from the mains, a man must drink a quart of it every day for
21 years before he will have consumed one ounce (troy weight) of
organic carbon, and he must do the same for 130 years to finish his
first ounce of organic nitrogen. The only remedy for objectionable
cisterns is the constant supply system, which is being gradually
adopted by most of the Water Companies from motives of economy.
but I know no reason why the process should not be accelerated for
the benefit of the public.
November 1st, 1880.
During the fortnight that ended on the 23rd day of
October, 143 births and 54 births were registered in Bermondsey.
These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of 37·2, and to an
annual rate of mortality of 14·1 per 1000 of the estimated population.
The death rate in London was 20·8 per 1000.
To the principal diseases of the zymotic class 11 deaths were
referred, viz:—to measles 1, to scarlet fever 5, to diphtheria 1, to
whooping cough 1, to typhus 1, and to diarrhœa 2.
From diseases of the respiratory organs there were 16 deaths,
viz:—l4 from bronchitis and 2 from pneumonia.
Tubercular diseases caused 10 deaths, viz:—phthisis 8
meningitis 1, tuberculosis 1.
There were 2 Inquests, and 2 deaths were not certified by any
registered medical practitioner.
Under one year of age there were 18 deaths, between one and
sixty years 29 deaths, and above sixty years 7 deaths.
On the 28th of October, an unvaccinated child, aged 8 years,
died of hœemorrhagic smallpox at 67, Salisbury Street. The body
was removed to the mortuary and the house disenfected. There
were three other children in the same house unvaccinated.