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PUTNEY AND ROEHAMPTON.
SO much having been accomplished in this sub-district during
the year 1860, in the way of main and branch drainage, and
other equally desirable improvements, it can scarcely be expected
that quite so large an amount of completed sanitary work, as was
exhibited in the summary of that year will, be found recorded in
Table VI. appended to the present report. Nevertheless, it is
believed the present table will show that there has been throughout
the past year not only considerable activity displayed in carrying
out works of acknowledged utility, but that all previously effected
improvements have been well and efficiently sustained.
The principal sanitary work, and one for which there arose the
greatest necessity, was carried out at Roehampton.
The following is an extract from one of my returns furnished in
the autumn of last year, and is here inserted to show the condition
of the hamlet which had led me so repeatedly to refer to its want
of efficient drainage:—
"Scarlatina of a malignant type, I regret to say, continues to
prevail at Roehampton. I desire, therefore, to call particular
attention to the very defective drainage of this locality, which I
believe has lately, and during the prevalence of former epidemics,
proved a source of great danger to the inhabitants. At every outbreak
of zymotic disease in the hamlet the cases that have presented
themselves have been, generally speaking, of an unusually
malignant character, and not only has there been more fatality than
could be reasonably expected in such an otherwise healthy neighbourhood;
but convalescence in the recovered cases has been infinitely
more protracted than amongst patients who have suffered
from the same disease in the better drained portions of the subdistrict.
I would therefore warmly urge a consideration of this
important matter, with a view to the adoption of some means 01
improving the existing drainage, if it be beyond the power of the
Board at present to entirely alter it."