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33
six, the increase was maintained during the early part of August
but fell at the end of the month to the ordinary summer level. This
increased mortality was due chiefly to the large number of deaths
from Diarrhoea. In the week ending the 6th of July these were
four, in the second week the number went up to thirteen, in the
third to twenty-two, in the fourth week the number remained the
same, in the week ending August 3rd it fell to twenty-one, and continued
to fall week by week till it reached the ordinary level of four
at the end of August. The Diarrhoea deaths registered in Bethnal
Green during the whole of the year numbered 162 against 54 in the
preceding year, exactly treble the mortality.
Of course I cannot say that this increased mortality was due
directly to short supply of water, as there is always a rise in the
number of diarrhoea deaths during July and August, but I feel certain
that the water-famine increased and intensified the ordinary
conditions. Overflowing closets and choked drains abounded all
over the district, and gave the Sanitary Inspectors much additional
work in getting them put right, and I am not quite sure that the
modern short hopper closet pan unsupplied with water for flushing
purposes is as good under these conditions as the old fashioned
funnel-shaped long hopper; semi-solids slide down the steep sides
of the latter, while they are delayed by the basin-shaped form of
the modern pattern, which is dependent upon a proper water-flush
for the removal of its contents.
In addition to nuisances caused by choked drains, I received a
large number of complaints of inconvenience and distress, caused
by the short supply. I know of cases of sudden illness in the night
where poultices could not be made and hot fermentations and hot
baths could not be used for the relief of pain and spasm. Many
tradesmen and manufacturers have complained that they were
hindered and greatly inconvenienced in the conduct of their business
by the short supply.
All sorts of receptacles were requisitioned for storage purposes;
in addition to proper water cans and jugs, foot-baths, slop-pails,
buckets, kettles, and pots and pans of various kinds were used.
As a rule, people do not possess a superabundance of articles of