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127
That the Metropolitan Branch of the Incorporated Society of
Medical Officers of Health is of opinion that in London storage cisterns
should be retained, for domestic purposes, in occupied dwelling-houses
supplied with water on the constant service system, and that a drawoff
tap should be affixed on the rising main for the supply of water
for dietetic purposes.
Nothing was said as to the size of the cistern to be
provided, as that must depend on the number of
persons in each house. Where the cistern is used
solely for feeding •water-waste-preventers of W.C.'s,
a very small one will suffice. It is to be understood
that any interruption in the service should be for a few
hours only, as it would be absurd to arrange a system
which should be adequate for both constant and intermittent
supplies.
Ice and Ice Cream.—During the winter of 189495
large quantities of ice were taken from the canals,
and it was thought that the use of such ice, derived
from water of a highly-polluted character, would lead
to a large amount of enteric fever. The experience of
the year had not justified those fears. The bulk of the
ice stored in this Parish is used in the manufacture of
ice cream by the Italians. From inquiries made it
appears that no ice enters into the composition of ice
cream and that it is used solely as a freezing mixture
with salt. The vessels in which the cream is kept are
of sheet metal, with lids that fit as closely as they can
be made to do. In making "water ices," rough ice is
sometimes used, but such ice must be of the cleanest
description or else the "ice" is too uninviting to be
sold.