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Havering stands high on pebble sand bounded by London and
pebble clay. Population, 440. Agricultural. Birth-rate, 28.4.
Death-rate, 13.6. Death-rate from zymotic disease, Nil. Privies
"Water supply mainly from wells. Supply not good. Some of the
outlying parts supplied by ponds. Negotiations have been conducted
with the South Essex Water Company to extend their mains to the
village, and this is now in course of being done.
Hornchurch.—Large village and scattered groups of houses
extending over a large parochial area Part of the parish adjoining
and actually forming part of the town of Romford Stands mostly
on gravel, partly on clay, and some small part, running down to the
river Thames on alluvium. Population (estimated) 8,000. Principally
agricultural. Foundry and brewery in the village, and an
increasing number of residents having their occupation in London.
Birth-rate, 27.2. Death-rate, 126. Death-rate from zymotic disease,
2.0.
There has been a marked decrease of infectious disease in the
village of Hornchurch. During the first part of the year infectious
disease continued to prevail to a considerable extent as it had done in
the previous year, but I am glad to report that during the last six
mouths of the year only five cases of infectious disease have beeu
notified as having occurred in the village aud its immediate neighbourhood.
There has been an abnormal amount of infectious disease
in the populous north part of the parish, and I fear that the same
structural defect of the house drains leading to the main sewer exist,
to a considerable extent, in this locality as has been proved to exist in
the village. A systematic testing of all house drains, by competent
officials, as adopted by the Council on the suggestion of the Parish
Council, resulted in the discovery that 90 per cent, of these drains
showed insanitary defects. Unfortunately, has been to 6ome
extent, checked, at least in a compulsory sense as in proceedings taken
before the Romford Justices, against an occupier who refused official
interference, the case was decided against the Council It is to be
hoped, however, that the occupiers and owners of houses in the parish
will not in the interest of the health of their families refuse to have
the salutary precaution taken of having their drains officially tested.