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26
had been dormant for some time, rapidly progressed to a
fatal issue after the basements of the houses in which
they lived had been flooded."
* * * *
" Mr. Richards, the Inspector, has made a house-tohouse
call, to ascertain what amount of sickness, and its
nature, has occurred in the houses flooded in the following
streets, viz. :—Ingrave Street, Meyrick Road, Grove Road,
Winstanley Road, Palk Road, Falcon Grove, and Falcon
Lane, with the following results :—
No. of Houses visited No. of Houses from which Tenants have removed since flooding took place No. in which sickness has occurred No. in which no sickness has occurred
47 11 19 17
" It will be seen from the above that nearly an equa
number of families have had sickness in their houses or
otherwise. The nature of illness found to have existed
is as follows :—Rheumatic Fever, Lung Diseases, Severe
Colds, and Sore Throats.
" These complaints would all be caused by damp
basements, and persons residing in houses being subject
to periodical floodings would certainly deteriorate in
health, and so be more liable to be affected by disease ;
and when one finds all the members of families affected,
it would appear there is but one prevailing cause, and I
do not think there can be any doubt but that we must
look to the floodings for that cause."
"April, 1879."
We think there can be no doubt that the present
liability of the lower parts of the parish to this dangerous
condition of things is one that should no longer be