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"that oxydation shall at all times be so incomplete, as to have left the
"water still capable of a very dangerous kind of fermentation."
After the expressed concurrent opinion of so many medical men and
eminent chemists as to the unfitness for domestic use of the water obtained
from tho pumps in London, it is my duty to advise the Board not only to
keep closed the pump in Spitalfields, but to remove it and all the other
disused pumps in the District, and to fill up the wells under the direction of
the Surveyor; for these excavations in the earth are merely receptacles for
retaining offensive gases, the gradual diffusion of which may be dangerous to
the public health.
The following are the localities where wells, over which pumps existed,
have not been filled up; viz., one in Norton Folgate, near to the City Theatre;
one in "Whitechapel Road, corner of Thomas Street; one in High Street, Whitechapel,
near to Spectacle Alley, and one in Commercial Street, near to
Spitalfields Church.
Small-Pox.
The deaths from small-pox registered in this District for the Quarter
ending 30th December, 1871, have been 23. This is an increase of 12 upon
tho return of the previous Quarter. The total deaths from small-pox which
have occurred in this District during the last fifteen months, including the
deaths in the Small-pox Hospitals of those who were sent from this District,
have been 270; viz., for the Quarter ending 31st December, 1870, the deaths
in tho District were 50, and 2 occurred in the Hospitals; for tho Quarter
ending April, 1871, the deaths were 83, and 12 in the Hospitals; for
the Quarter ending July the deaths were 42, and 24 in the Hospitals;
for the Quarter ending September the deaths were 11, and 11 in the
Hospitals ; and for the Quarter ending 30th December, 1871, the deaths in
the District were 23, and 12 occurred in the Hospitals.
The deaths from small-pox in London during the same five quarters have
been 8476.
The total number of cases which have been attended by the Medical
Officers of the Union during the same period have been 870. Por the first
named Quarter they were 245; for the sccond 352; for the third 174; for
the fourth 41, and for the fifth 58.
Vaccination.
The eases of primary vaccination performed by Mr. Placeman, the Public
Vaccinator, during this Quarter have only been 134, (while the births
registered in the District have been 653); whereas, owing to the panic caused
by the numerous cases of small-pox in this District in the first Quarter of
this year, there were 871 primary and 1179 secondary vaccinations performed
by him during the six weeks ending 30th March last. Now that the
panic is subsiding, the desire of procuring vaccination has subsided with it;
and unless the law relating to compulsory vaccination be stringently enforced,
the number of cases of vaccination will rapidly decline, and thousands of
children will thus be exposed to the fatal effects of small-pox.