View report page

greater part of the summer unfavourable to the spread of this
disease.
There were nearly double as many suicides as there
were in 1901, and it may be that the weather of last year,
which was inimical to diarrhoea mortality, favoured those
conditions of mind which lead frequently to suicide.
With the epidemic of smallpox that lasted from
October, 1901, up to July, 1902, I have already dealt with at
some length, and it only remains for me to mention two other
cases that occurred in Peckham.
The first one to be attacked was a boy of 18, who was
employed as a caddie at the golf ground at the Honor Oak
Club. He had been walking about with the rash out, for
a. week before a doctor was called in. He was removed to
hospital on September 29th, 1902. On October 8th his mother
was attacked and removed to hospital, where she died on the
15th of the same month. No other instances occurred, a
curious faet, when the number of persons is considered with
whom the boy must have come in contact.
The Council on June 18th passed a resolution authorising
the use of a cottage situated at Peckham Park Road Depot as a
shelter for persons who are temporarily turned out of their
houses while disinfection is being carried out. This has been
fitted up with baths, and accommodation for use both by day
and by night.
Up to the present date it has not been occupied, but
at any time the necessity for its use may arise.
During the year many applications have been made to
the Committee for dispensation from some of the requirements
of the County Council By-laws, made by that body for the
more uniform carrying out of new drainage work. These
applications have related more especially to the provision of
heavy material for the ventilation of the soil pipes, it being
alleged that in many cases the walls of old buildings would not
carry the specified weight. In many cases your Committee has
considered the requirement to be impracticable, and has
dispensed the owners accordingly.
On January 14th your Committee received the following
report from the Borough Engineer and myself, in which we
both agree that this is one of the most satisfactory ways of
dealing with the difficult problem of sewer ventilators in