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60
bad. According to Dr. Frankland's returns in the
Registrar General's report, it seems positively unfit for
domestic use, and worse than any other water supplied to
the Metropolis. The great importance of pure water to
the health of a community is an admitted fact, and we
have, therefore, good cause to complain of the water supply
of our district. If water could be procured from another
and better source of supply than the Thames, as from deepwell
borings, we might have a better quality supplied.
Another point of great moment is the present frequent
and close connection of the cistern and the water-closet.
I have the Surveyor's authority for stating that one-half
of the houses in this parish have the same cistern supplying
water to the closet and for dietetic purposes. This
state of matters could easily be remedied at a very trifling
expense. Of course, in present circumstances, it is highly
necessary to filter the water used for dietetic purposes in
an efficient manner. Charcoal seems to be the best
filtering medium.
JOHN MAC DONOGH,
Medical Officer of Health
for Clapham.