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put forward by the deputation as important scientific evidence to
urge you to take action. They are (I consider in a peculiar
manner) specially open to the criticism of your professional adviser;
I would not venture otherwise to criticise anything that was said by
a member of a deputation that waited upon you, for such a thing
would, I consider, be far apart from my duty, but when such statements
are put forward by the leading member of a deputation (as
the voice of the deputation) and urged with a species of authority
from one who pretends to speak with scientific precision, it then
becomes my duty to tell you that the discoveries that he states he
has made, "the extraction of the seedlings of disease,'' (to use his
own words) "such as the seeds of typhoid fever, the seeds of low
fever, the seeds of the black fever, and the seeds of numerous other
fevers, in samples of the mud," is proof, to say the least, that he is
in possession of processes very far in advance of any yet known to the
greatest and most distinguished analytical chemists and physicians
of the day.
I therefore challenge him to the proof. At present I am bound
to tell you that no reliance whatever need be placed on such
emphatically unscientific evidence.
As a teacher of chemistry for the past ten years at one of the
largest hospitals in London, I unhesitatingly state that, the scientific
evidence brought before you at your meeting on Monday last is
unintelligible to any chemist, and is not in accordance with, and
cannot be sanctioned by, the state of this particular branch of
knowledge at the present time.
With respect to the other places viewed by the Committee,
namely, Birkbeck Road, Upper Durham Road, Wells Terrace,
Clifton Terrace, and the field in front of Clifton Terrace, I am even
more strongly of opinion that there is still less cause for complaint
on the ground of nuisance, although it is certainly desirable that
the roads named as well as the Upper Cottenham Road, should be
made as soon as practicable.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
(Signed) C. MEYMOTT TIDY,
February 19th, 1875. Medical Officer of Health.