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as to vaccination are totally unreliable. The statistics of the various Small
Pox hospitals are conclusive as to the great efficacy of vaccination in
warding off Small Pox, and where complete immunity has not been
conferred, in mitigating the severity of this loathsome disease.
I am not yet in a position to pronounce an opinion as to the working of
the new arrangements for public vaccination, no sufficient opportunity
having been afforded of watching their working under varied circumstances.
9764 persons were successfully re-vaccinated by the public vaccinators.
That no indubitable severe case of Small Pox after re-vaccination has become
known to me during the year, speaks volumes for this operation; all the
supposed cases of Small Pox after re-vaccination turning out to have been
re-vaccinated after Small Pox had affected the system. I must except one
doubtful and fatal case, where a man died from incautious exposure to
inclement weather whilst suffering from mild Small Pox, stated to be after
re-vaccination.
WATER SUPPLY.
The parish is supplied by the West Middlesex and the New River Companies
with water of fair quality. The former Company derives its supply
from the Thames ; the latter from the River Lea, from Chadwell Spring,
and from chalk wells at Hoddesden, Cheshunt, and Amwell, the river supply
and the well supply being furnished in about equal amounts. The water
supplied by each Company was invariably, when examined, clear and free
from turbidity.
Living organisms were never visible in the water drawn from the mains.
The water in cisterns, and more especially in butts, is too often contaminated
and impure. This, however, arises from no fault of the water
as delivered to consumers.
During the past session of parliament an Act was passed (Metropolis
Water Act, 1871) for securing a constant supply of wholesome water to the
metropolis.
The superintendence of the filtration and delivery of wholesome water by
the London Companies is entrusted to the Board of Trade, who have appointed
a water examiner for that purpose. The local authority for the administration
of the Act is the Metropolitan Board of Works, and not the Vestry.
The various companies have in pursuance of the provisions of the Act,
issued regulations for the constant supply of water for domestic purposes.
These regulations will, I beheve, meet with the energetic opposition of the
Metropolitan Board on behalf of the ratepayers, a majority of whom have
hitherto been clamorous for a constant water supply. It remains to be
seen how far the public will like the interference and expense which the
constant supply threatens. It was generally supposed that a constant
supply meant a constant supply laid on at all times from the main to the
tap. The companies, however, interpret the Act differently. According to
them a constant supply means a supply laid on at all times to the cisterns;
but a branch pipe to convey water directly from the pipes of the company
(i.e. without the intervention of a cistern) for the special purpose of drinking
and cooking, may be laid on from a " screw-down" stop valve inserted in
the communication pipe for the conveyance of water supplied by the
company, at its point of entrance into the premises.