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authority to turn away those who refused to be clean
and orderly. Many are disgusted with the dirt and
filth with which they aire obliged to associate, and would
be glad of an opportunity of getting into well regulated
lodging-houses.
March, 1857.—The public health has improved
during the month of March, and the weekly returns
have all been below the average. Three deaths from
fever have occurred; in two cases there is no imputation
on the drainage, but in that which occurred at
2, Percy Wharf, there is a nuisance in the pipe of a
water-closet that opens under the windows of the house
above high water mark, so that it is only at spring tides
that the accumulations can be carried away.
Some observations on the supply of water to the
Parish, which is principally from the New River. Our
baths and washhouses are supplied from the Artesian
Well in Orange Street. We have only two public
pumps of spring water, that in Duncannon Street, from
a well under the church, and the other behind King
Charles's Statue at Charing Cross, which is supplied
from the Orange Street Works. The quantity of water
required for drinking purposes forms but a very small
proportion of the total quantity consumed. The water
we drink ought to be pure, fresh, and wholesome, which
it never can be while supplied as at present from rivers
into which towns carry their sewerage, whatever expense
may be incurred for subsidence and filtering.
That it is desirable to induce our population to drink
more water and less beer and spirits all are agreed;
but we ought to give them such water as there is pleasure
in drinking,—that is, good spring water. To tell
people that they should boil their water before drinking
it is almost telling them not to drink water at all; and
yet so small is the supply of really drinkable water,
that several of our officers of health have been obliged