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66
were found in the bakehouse one supplied directly from the
main, the other from the cistern which also supplied the
water-closet. It was asserted that the water used in baking
was taken from the first source; but on enquiring when the
"sponge" was made, this was found to correspond to a time
when the water was turned off at the main.
Cisterns have received a large amount of attention during
the past year, 571 having been repaired and cleansed. The
placing of cisterns in inaccessible positions under the roof,
without a cover, has been found to be a frequent source of foul
drinking water. Dead birds, mice, birds' excrement, &c. are
not infrequently found in such cisterns, and the difficulty in
reaching them prevents efficient cleansing. There can be no
doubt that when drinking water is the source of diseases, it is
generally if not always due to contamination received in the
house or its annexa, rather than to the quality of the water
as delivered by the Water Companies.
As an instance of the anomalous character of sanitary
legislation, may be mentioned the prohibition of the water
supply for baking purposes being obtained from a cistern
which also supplies a water-closet; while no such enactment
is in force for water which has not undergone the at any rate
partial protection of being baked. It is still extremly common
in Clapham for one cistern to supply water for drinking and
for flushing the closets, thus providing in case of accidental
emptying of the cistern a ready passage into it of foul gases
from the closet. Whether a separate service.box for each
closet can be legally enforced remains to be proved.
ARTHUR NEWSHOLME, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for Clapham.