View report page

2
There can be no doubt that the water was the special thing which determined
the occurrence of cholera in these cases ; for whilst there were about 20 cases,
and 7 deaths amongst a population of about 100 persons living in the houses,
there were scarcely any other cases heard of in the surrounding neighbourhood.
Nearly the only other fatal case occurring about the same time was that of a
youth living at Bromley, about two miles distant, and it was ascertained that he
had drunk of the water of one of the wells only two days before his death. It is
not to be supposed that the water by itself was sufficient to cause cholera, for
there is no reason to believe that it was more foul at the time when the cases of
cholera occurred than it had been for many months previously; and we must
suppose that there was some epidemic influence abroad predisposing to cholera,
and this influence falling upon persons drinking water rendered impure by
drainage was sufficient to produce the disease. So that we must not conclude
because a water does not produce in times of health any very obvious symptoms,
that therefore it will be innocent in times when cholera is epidemic.
Good water copiously supplied is equally important in times when epidemic
disease is not rife, although the dire effects of foul water are not then so
strikingly exhibited by an increased mortality.
"What then is the quality of the water used by the people of St. Pancras ?
The water is supplied mainly by the New River Company, partly by the
"West Middlesex, and partly by the Hampstead Company. In addition to these
main sources of supply, there are a few wells in different parts of the parish.
There is a well in the "Workhouse garden for the inmates of that establishment;
there are also public wells, in Clarendon Square, in Burton Crescent, in Grafton
Street, and in Goodge Street; private wells in the grounds of University College,
one belonging to the Colosseum, one to the North-Western Bail way, one to
Pickford & Co., and one at the Zoological Gardens. There is also a shallow
well in Fitzroy Market, the water of which is preferred by the inhabitants for
drinking to that supplied by the "Water Company, although it is too hard for
washing purposes, and contains an excessive amount both of inorganic and
organic impurity, as may be seen in the table given subsequently.
The districts supplied by the three "Water Companies are as follows :— The
New Biver Company supplies that portion of the parish, south of Fig Lane and
east of the Hampstead Road, including Somers Town, Bedford New Town,
Gray's Inn Lane, and Agar Town. The Hampstead Company nominally supplies
the greater portion of Kentish and Camden Towns, but in consequence of a
failure in their well, they have been obliged to connect their mains with those
of the New River and the "West Middlesex, as a supplementary supply. The
"West Middlesex Company supplies a small part of the parish to the west of the
North-Western Railway and Tottenham Court Road.
THE NEW RIYER COMPANY.
The sources of supply resorted to by this Company are the river Lea, Spitalbrook;
small springs taken into the river in its course; also the water-shed of
the Northhall district, and four deep wells sunk into the chalk in Middlesex and
Hertfordshire; and the Chadwell Spring, near Ware. The Lea yields 1840 cubic
feet per minute; the wells at Great Amwell yield 274; the well in Hampsteadroad
from 50 to 70; the Chadwell Springs about 500 cubic feet per minute.
Since 1850 great improvements have been effected by this Company, at an
expense of £566,000. Many of the bends of the New River have been cut off
and straightened. Filter beds have been constructed at Stoke Newington and
the New River Head, Pentonville, together covering 9 acres of area. The filtering
medium is 5 feet thick, consisting of sand and gravel, in layers, which increase
in coarseness towards the bottom. At the present time a very important improvement
is being effected, namely, the diversion of the sewerage of the town
of Hertford, at a cost of nearly £10,000, from above the point in the river Lea
at which the Company take their supply. Hitherto this sewerage has polluted
the water used by this Company. The Claremont-square reservoir, capable of
containing 3J million gallons, has been covered over. The reservoirs near the
Brecknock Arms and the Hampstead-road are not covered, but the water from
them is not supplied for drinking; the former is used in the New Cattle Market;