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74
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In 1899, 22 cases were notified; in 1900, 17; in 1901, 20; and in
1902, up to the present time, 28. During that time the population
has largely increased, being estimated at 1,100 in 1899, and about
4,000 in 1902. A large number of houses are still being built,
which will probably accommodate about another 3,000.
In consequence of this prevalence in 1899 the Medical Officer
of Health for Clapham made a special report, which is published
in his Annual Report for that year.
I quite agree with the conclusions arrived at by him, but I
would emphasise the fact stated in that report, that the wetness of
the soil is no doubt one of the chief causes of this undue prevalence
of Diphtheria.
The Sanitary Inspector who supervised the sanitary work on
this estate, and who was acquainted with all the local conditions
before the houses were erected, reports that the surface of the land
between Cavendish Road and Hydethorpe Road, was during the
winter months and rainy weather, continuously under water, and
that the subsoil was composed of a wet spongy clay and full of
water.
No attempt was made to drain the soil, but one old 6-inch
drain, forming the boundary between Clapham and Streatham in
Cavendish Road, was picked up and connected to the new drain.
With reference to the concreting of the surface on which the
houses are built, in 1899 an examination was made and the floors
of several houses taken up. It was then ascertained that the concrete
in the houses in Scholars Road was of poor quality and only
about two inches thick, but this was afterwards remedied by the
builder.
Floors were also taken up in some of the houses in Pentney
Road and Hydethorpe Road, but in these the concrete was found
to be satisfactory.
The yards were all paved about 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet wide
along the back addition, except in the case of some of the flats,
which are paved only along the width of the back addition,