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26
derived were carefully inspected with a negative result. All
the affected houses were supplied with water from the Kent
Water Company, and I was assured that there had been no
interference with the mains supplying them. The water,
however, drawn first thing in the morning from one affected
house was examined bacteriologically, with a negative result.
The houses were on several different sewers, even neighbouring
houses in the one road which had most cases, draining into two
sewers running in opposite directions. I found that these
sewers were not properly ventilated, but ventilating shafts have
since been supplied. The house drainage was in all cases
examined and tested with the smoke machine; the drains were
found satisfactory in nine cases and defective in five; where
found defective they were relaid and tested with the water test.
Complaints were received of smells from road gullies, and one
which was found imperfectly trapped was remedied; all the
others were found effectively trapped. Shellfish, fried fish,
butter and other foods and drinks were excluded as possible
sources of infection.