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25
Total solid matter 99.
Containing—
Chlorine 7.3
Equal to common salt 11.9
Nitrites Plentiful
Ammonia 0.017
And yielding—
Albuminoid Ammonia 0.019
Of the total solid matter 15 grains were volatilizable by heat.
The Oxygen required in 15 minutes to oxidize the organic matter
was 0 033 grains. The Oxygen required in 3 hours to oxidize the
organic matter was 0.106 grains.
The Water had a yellow tint.
The Microscope showed it to be swarming with living animalculæ.
On consideration of these facts, I am of opinion that the water
has become contaminated with surface drainage, and that it is not
safe water for drinking purposes. It would be advisable to prohibit
such water being used for drinking.
ALE. W. STOKES,
Public Analyst.
Notice was thereupon served on the owners of the premises to
discontinue the use of the water for drinking purposes, and the
work necessary for obtaining a supply of water from the New
River Company's Mains was at once proceeded with and completed
August 20th.
In the meantime, the lad 14 (first case notified) died, the cause
being certified as Typhoid Fever. On August ]6th, case No. 2 was
removed from his home to St. Bartholomew's Hospital, it was then
certified as a case of Enteric Fever, and the patient died August
24th.
I have seen the two men whose addresses could not at the time
of my visit to the factory be ascertained. One of them was absent
from work four weeks and the other about ten days. The Medical
man who attended the former, informs me that although he was
unable to identify the illness with Enteric Fever, he has no doubt
it was in great measure caused by the use of water from a polluted
source; in the second of these cases the man was treated at his
home for Febrile Catarrh. On the Wednesday last, September
6th, I received a Certificate, notifying that a girl 14 years old,
residing at 19, Richmond Street (one of the houses supplied from
the well in question), was suffering from Enteric Fever, upon
inquiry I learned that the patient had been ill for four weeks, but
the Medical men under whose care she has been were unable to