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"matter, some of which is dangerous to the health of the persons using
"the water for dietetic purposes, and that it is practically impossible to
"keep sewage or sewage effluents out of the river, and though there is
"no positive evidence that the filtered water is unwholesome, the lives
"of a large community ought not to be dependent on the efficient
"filtering plant of commercial companies. Under present circumstances
"a serious epidemic of typhoid or cholera in the Thames basin above
"the intakes would be attended with great risk to the water drinkers of
"London. Such experiments should not be tried upon large communi"ties.
Before the cholera outbreak of 1849 it was believed that Thames
"water taken between bridges in London was perfectly safe, as testified
"by the evidence of many eminent experts, but the belief cost London
"25,000 lives in 1849 and 1854, and his opinion is that the Thames ought
"to be abandoned as soon as practicable for the supply of London.
"Sir George Buchanan also is of opinion that, as contaminated waters
"do under certain unknown conditions produce disease, but that neither
"by chemical, microscopical nor bacteriological examination can the
"cause be detected, the only really reasonable course to adopt when a
"water is known to be polluted as the Thames is, is to avoid its use."
Attention, too, has been drawn to the fact that the Commissioners have
not accepted the conclusions drawn by Dr. Barry in his report on the
enteric fever in the Tees valley, in which he shows that in his opinion
typhoid fever was spread broadcast by water drawn from a sewagepolluted
river, and have come to the conclusion that such a thing was
impossible, or at least infinitely improbable, though Dr. Thorne-Thome
has stated " that seldom, if ever, has the proof of the relation of water
so befouled to wholesale occurrence of enteric fever been more obvious
and patent" than in this case of the Tees, the bearing of which on the
purity of the London water supply the Commissioners have refused to
admit. In the face of these criticisms of the report it must be obvious
that the decision of the Commissioners cannot be regarded as final.
Certificates under Customs and Inland Revenue Acts,
1890 and 1891.
Certificates for exemption from Inhabited House Duty have been
granted in respect of 61 houses containing 137 dwellings, and refused
in respect of 32 houses containing 90 dwellings.