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42
the view of ascertaining any sanitary defect that might exist, and
if possible to prevent the spread of the disease. The premises
were found to be, as regards their sanitary arrangements and
their general cleanliness, in a very satisfactory condition, and
the Sanitary Committee therefore, acting upon the recommendation
of the Medical Officer of Health, directed that a sample of
the water should be taken from the drinking supply of the
house, and forwarded to the Public Analyst for analysis. The
result of this analysis shewed that the water contained a
quantity of vegetable debris and was swarming with living
Infusoriae and Bacteriae in large numbers. The condition of the
water was doubtless due to improper storage and neglect to
cleanse the cistern, and as water in this condition would be
exceedingly dangerous to health, and might cause disease, the
necessary steps were taken to enforce the immediate cleansing
of the cistern.
The Vestry directed that a handbill be distributed,
recommending the Parishioners to periodically empty and
cleanse all cisterns containing the water supply for domestic
use, and to boil the water before the same is used for drinking
purposes.
The Vestry also addressed communications to the London
County Council and the Southwark and Vauxhall and Lambeth
Water Companies, requesting that the necessary steps might be
taken with a view to supplying the whole of the houses and
premises in the parish with a continuous supply of water, and
after correspondence with the Companies, the Council replied
in June to the effect that the Lambeth Water Company were
willing to give a constant supply to the portion of the parish
within that Company's District to which a constant supply had
not already been given without the Council requiring the
Company to provide a constant supply under Section 8 of the
Metropolis Water Act, 1871, and that that Company would
within a few weeks prepare plans and give notices with regard
to one or more districts within the parish; and that the
Southwark and Vauxhall Water Co. had expressed their