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air, and this might happen to contain emanations from
the excretions of a typhoid, cholera, or other patient; a
ready means for dissemination of disease is thus constantly
in existence and in operation.
Separate storage for domestic and closet purposes
would almost entirely remove this source of danger.
For the same reasons, there is here also a possible
source of contamination of the water in the Company's
mains, especially in the case of a cistern without water,
and from defective fittings, allowing gases to pass
from the closet into the cistern, and thence into the
Company's pipes, this might easily occur with the
small cisterns placed directly over water-closets, as part
of the apparatus for giving constant service. Everybody
knows that pure water is one of the first necessaries
of life, but it is only one of many allied questions
implicating injury to health and destruction of human
life, which must await the time and convenience of the
Government to cause to be legislated upon.
Gas.
The illuminating power of the gas supplied to the
Hamlet by the Commercial Gas Company has never
been below the standard required by the Act of Parliament,
affecting this Company, viz., that the lighting
power of the gas from an argand burner with 16 holes,
shall be equal to that of 12 sperm candles.
The average illuminating power, for the 12 months
ending March last, was equal to 14.23 candles, or 2.23
above the standard required by the act in question, so
that practically the Company supplies gas approaching
in illuminating power to that which would be required
from them under the recent Acts affecting the City
Companies.
Impurities.—Sulphuretted hydrogen was never present
upon any occasion.