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technically known as a 'superficial well' —that is to say, it is one sunk
into the gravel of the London basin. 4th. That it is a fact, notorious to
engineers, chemists, and sanitarians, that the water of such wells, is obtained
by filtration through the porous strata on the surface, which strata in
London are charged with excremental filth of all kinds, which the water
dissolves and carries with it into the wells thus sunk. That in fact the
water of the well is nothing but 'filtered sewage.' It is the carbonic
acid and nitrates formed by the partial oxidation of such matters which
render such water agreeable. 5th. That these wells are liable to receive
such matters in an unoxidized as well as in an oxidized condition, and when
this happens, the water becomes a means of producing disease. 6th.
That this accident may happen at any time, from a variety of causes, and
without warning; and hence, that a well water which may have been drunk
for years with impunity, may suddenly assume characters extremely
dangerous to the health and life of people using it. 7th. Not a year
passes without illustrations of this truth being furnished by the investigations
into outbreaks of such diseases as Typhoid Fever and Cholera, by the
officers of the Privy Council, the results of which are published in the annual
reports of its medical officer. I may further allude to the sudden outbreaks
of the latter disease from this cause in Soho in 1854, and later at "West Ham
and Theydon Bois, in Essex, as examples of the same thing. 8th. That
I have long suspected the possibility of the propagation of Typhoid Fever
by milk in this way, the water added to it being contaminated; but that
this year, I have for the first time, had experience of such an occurrence,
producing among the customers of one milkman 170 cases of Typhoid Fever,
and 30 deaths within a period of ten weeks. 9th. That with these facts,
and with this experienee, I am bound to express my professional opinion of
the danger to the public health, arising out of the existence of such a well
on Mason's premises; this well especially being from its surroundings very
liable to the accidental contaminations I allude to." I stated further, that
if the well were simply closed, it would become in course of time a mere
stagnant pool, and so poisonous that its re-opening would almost inevitably
lead to fatal consequences. On these grounds, I thought it ought to be
abolished. The Committee thought so too, and its abolition, so long
fought against, was ultimately accomplished, and a proper water supply
from the main of the New River Company provided in its place.
Huckett's was a new establishment, and the license was held back, partly
because the necessary works had not been completed, and partly because the