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17
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.—1864.
deserving of all praise; thereby, preventing a discharge of the sewage of that town into the
Thames, between Teddington and Staines. If this had been permitted, or similar proceedings,
what would have availed the people here spending millions of money, in constructing
drains for the purpose of purifying that portion of the river which flows through the Metropolis?
This Vestry has also wisely and opportunely petitioned the Legislature, to prevent
the polluting of the rivers and streams of the kingdom, especially of the river Thames,
by the introduction of sewage above the Metropolis. " The sparkling rivulet," says
a recent writer, "the crystal stream, the majestic river—pure sources of health, plenty, and
refreshment, have been, of late especially, used unscrupulously for the vilest purposes."
The unutterable compound we did drink, and, to some extent do still, could scarce be
credited. It is marvellous how patient and apathetic we are under the most serious evils,
just because they have grown upon us; and it is only when they have become intolerable,
that measures are taken for their removal. We want pure water, not diluted sewage. We
want more of it—a constant supply; so that those standing nuisances, water butts, next in
mischief to cess-pools, may be abolished. These butts are almost always improperly
situated, owing to want of room: no one considers it his duty to clean them; consequently
they are always dirty. The Registrar General attributes the great increase of deaths
during the last autumn, partly to the water of the wells and streams, which were scanty, as
well as impure, from the deficiency of the rain fall.
I had intended to have made some observations respecting the expediency either of
sending fever patients to the hospital, or, of having them treated in their own homes; this
intention, however, I must defer until another time.