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53
FEBRUARY.
Gentlemen.
In presenting this my second Medical Report as to the sanitary state of the district,
I have to report upon the appearance of small pox in the village of Lewisham, in a
locality to which I have already called your attention; and upon the continued prevalence
of measles in the Hamlet of Penge. Several cases of fever occurring in parts of
Blackheath and Lewisham, in an isolated form.
The mortality of the district has been smaller than last month, viz:—for
Blackheath.—8 deaths.
Lewisham.—8 deaths; 2 of which have occurred in the Union Workhouse; 1 case
of confluent smallpox, Willow Road, Rushey Green; 1 low fever, 1 intermittent.
Sydenham.—3 deaths.
Penge.—4 deaths are registered; 1 of which occurred from hooping cough in the
Anerley Industrial School.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
F. E. WILKINSON.
Blackheath and Lewisham.—The contamination of the river Ravensbourne requires
serious attention from the fact that the Kent Waterworks Company supply 554
houses in Lewisham and 252 on Blackheath.
But the question rests on a broader basis than this, from the fact that this company
supply 16,000 houses in Blackheath, Lewisham, Peckham, Camberwell, and Deptford, as
as well as the naval establishments at Woolwich and Deptford; and the consumption
of water last year was 863,000,000 gallons.
I have visited the works of this company and have had the greatest facility afforded
me for examining their process of filtration and purification; and have ascertained that
every effort is made to supply the water in the purest form possible.
After depuration by subsidence and exposure to air, the water passes through filter
beds of several acres in extent, composed of layers of gravel and sand, after which it is
pumped up for the use of its consumers; the supply being a daily one.
£5,000 were paid to the Commissioners of Sewers in November, 1850, upon which they
undertook to remove all sewage from this stream.
For this purpose some of the main lines of sewers are completed, some branches are in
progress, and much of the drainage has been diverted; but much remains to be done,
not only in constructing works, but in compelling owners of property to drain into the
outlets provided for them.
An open drain, from upwards of 20 houses (built by Mr. Fearnley, of the parish of
Lewisham), immediately adjoining and at the back of Lee Bridge, runs into the stream,
and requires your order for being carried into the sewer.
A side drain requires to be constructed from Willow Walk, Rushey Green, into the
main sewer; prior to which some purifying means should be used, as several cases of
smallpox have occurred in this locality.
Several houses (with two water closets only), in a great state of filth, situated in Tun's
Passage, Blackheath, require cleansing and the drainage carried into the sewer; which
I understand runs near this locality.
Lewis Grove, Lewisham, requires the attention of the Inspector of Nuisances.
A great proportion of the drainage of Waterloo Place, Lewisham, still empties into the
stream which runs through Lewisham, and requires your order for its removal.
Several of the houses in Loat's Pits, situate near Blackheath, are not supplied with
water, and are otherwise in a state of fifth.
Penge.—The state of several localities in this neighbourhood requires some comprehensive
system of drainage, not only to make the place healthy, but to remove dangerous
contamination from the Ravensbourne; in the absence of which local purification is
necessary.
Sydenham.—Spring Field, Wells Road, contains over 30 dwelling houses, and I have
to solicit your orders upon the owners of these houses to make good the road which,
from never having been ballasted, is in a most filthy condition, and unwholesome to the
inhabitants residing there.
The drains are also open and most offensive; and an outlet is here required to receive
the sewage.