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13
from the well, it smelt as if it had been recently dipped from a
sewer.
The whole water supply of Western Rotherhithe has, during
the past month, been often scanty and deficient. The high cisterns
frequently receiving no water for several days together.
It appears to me that more pressure is required at the central
works, that the mains in this Parish are generally rather too
small, and that much water is wasted by the carelessness of the
inhabitants themselves.
Let me add, however, in justice to the Southwark and Vauxhall
Company, that their water is of good quality. In the
eastern or lower district which receives its mains from the Kent
Water Works, the water is also of good quality, and no complaints
are ever heard about the supply being defective.
Under the Railway arches, the nuisances seem somewhat
abated. The only stench perceived by me on the 27th July,
was a strong odour of sugar scum issuing from some of the
arches.
Complaints have been often made of the smell of the mud of
the mill-stream between Mill-pond Bridge and the Surrey Mills.
Into this portion of the stream is discharged the drainage of
about thirty-three bouses; namely, of all the east side of West
Lane, of West-place, of Iphigenia Cottages, of three houses in
Paradise-street, and of all the west side of Gillam's-court, except
one house. The mud is, in consequence, a mass of fermenting
sewage, The house, No. 26, Gillam's-court, is the
only one properly drained, the closet has a pan and water supply,
and appended to it an excellent ashpit. It might be taken as a
model of the manner in which small dwellings should be fitted
up with regard to these matters.
The prevalent disease during July was, and still continues to
be, diarrhcea, the Parish being perfectly free from all other epidemics.
Nine persons have succumbed to that complaint, one
being registered as dying from choleraic diarrhoea, and one from
cholera infantum, so that above one-fourth of the whole mortality
of the month has been occasioned by diarrhcea; the number of
deaths registered being thirty-five, still under the average
monthly death rate, and ten less than in the corresponding
month of the year 1856. The month of July having in that
year been in Rotherhithe one of the most unhealthy.
Yours respectfully,
August, 1857. W. MURDOCH.