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were instituted, and the law enunciated above was found to
prevail universally.*
Before leaving this subject, I will point out the results
arrived at as regards Camberwell. 352 deaths occurred in this
parish among those who drank the water of the Southwark
Company, and 33 among those who drank the Lambeth water,
115 died of those who derived their supply from pumps and
other sources, and 49 persons died whose source of supply was
not ascertained. On calculating the rate of death among
those who drank the water furnished by the Southwark and
Vauxhall, and the Lambeth Companies, according to the number
supplied by the two companies respectively, it appears that
3 in a 1000 died of those who drank the Lambeth water, and
15 in a 1000 of those who drank the Southwark water. These
facts speak for themselves, and prove incontestably the great
importance of that which all who devote themselves to sanitary
investigations inculcate—the unspeakable importance of being
supplied for drinking purposes with pure water. The Southwark
and Vauxhall Company now obtains its water from
Hampton; the water distributed by it is now equally good
with that furnished by the Lambeth Company, and it will be a
subject of intense interest to learn, in the event of any future
outbreak of cholera, how far its mortality will be affected by
the change. I may add that the Kent Water Works supply a
small portion of the parish, and that the water which they
purvey seems about equal in quality to that of the other two
companies.
Drainage.—The importance of efficient drainage I need
scarcely dwell upon, for it is a subject to which your Board has
paid much and enlightened attention. I crave your indulgence,
however, while I make some remarks on a matter which
especially interests all who dwell on the south side of the
river. Cesspools, though unobjectionable perhaps in the
country, where they can be placed at long distances from
the houses, and where they cannot injuriously affect either
the owners or their neighbours, in a crowded metropolis,
like that of London, are most injurious and reprehensible.
Owing to the proximity of dwelling-houses they have to be
made in confined situations ; they are formed frequently close
* See Dr. Snow's and Mr. Simon's reports.