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7
higher." He points out, moreover, that deaths from diarrhoea are "more than four times as great in
proportion as in Plumstead as a whole." Dr. Davies' population was an estimated one, and since his
report was published the census already referred to has been taken, with result that the original
estimate appears to be a little too low. The differences between the estimated population and the census
population are not, however, of practical importance so far as the conclusions above referred to are
concerned. There can be no doubt that the mortality rates in the area are excessive, and that two
sets of causes are largely responsible for the excess, the first, the factors referred to at the commencement
of this report, the second, and in my opinion the more actively contributing set of causes, being
the existence, mainly in certain groups of houses, of defects which action on the part of the sanitary
authority would speedily cause to disappear.
Dr. Davies makes four recommendations in his report, the first three relate to testing all drains
in the district which have not already been tested, to considering as to how the sewerage of the district
can be improved, and to adopting the water test in the case of all new drains and all drains re-laid in
the district, and great importance must be attached to these recommendations. Still greater importance,
however, should I think be attached to the questions, as to the method of dealing with overcrowding
and other insanitary conditions, raised in his final recommendation. The cleansing of
rooms and the prevention of overcrowding will certainly necessitate addition being made to
the inspectorial staff; there will also be need for the sanitary authority to exercise more fully
than heretofore its powers under the Public Health Act, and more particularly to efficiently control the
condition of certain groups of houses upon the area. A most effective mean3 of securing the end in
view is ready to hand in the large powers the vestry already possesses under section 94 of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891.
W. H. Hamer,
Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
Chemist's Report on results of examination of samples of subsoil forwarded by the
medical officer.
I have to report to the Committee that on the 26th ultimo the medical officer informed me that
Dr. Hamer was enquiring into the sanitary condition of an area in Plumstead, and that he had reasons
for thinking that some of the houses were built over a soil containing dustbin refuse, at the same time
forwarding me three samples of the subsoil for examination, with a request that they should be
examined and the results reported to the Public Health Committee.
These samples have been submitted to analysis, and the results are set out in the appended table,
from which it will be seen that sample No. 1 was found to consist of fine sand and clay, with traces of
vegetable matter. No. 2 consisted of fine loamy matter, with pieces of unburnt coal, coke, and a
quantity of cinder ash. There was present in this sample a considerable quantity of vegetable fibre.
No. 3 contained loam, fine sandy matter, clay, and much organic matter. Nos. 2 and 3 on ignition
gave an odour of an offensive character.
A copy of this report has been handed to the medical officer for his information.
(Signed) Frank Clowes,
Chemist.

Microscopical examination.
No. 1.
Fine sand and clay, with root fibre and traces of vegetable matter.
No. 2.
Loam, coarse sand, with pieces of coal, coke and some fine cinder ash, with much vegetable
matter.
No. 3.
Loam and clay, root fibre, &c., with much organic matter.
(Signed) Frank Clowes,
Chemist.