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11
they gave a Sunday supply to all Courts in Blue Anchor Yard in 18G3,
which they continued to do voluntarily until the Water Act of 1871
came in force.
Although the abovementioned improvements have been effected in this
district as regards the water supply, much more is yet required to be done
before a satisfactory result will be arrived at. Butts still exist, some of
which are placed in cellars alongside of the privies; many of the butts are
without covers and taps ; some are too small, and the majority of them are
in bad condition, the sides being generally found covered with a green
slimy matter, and the bottom covered with dirt and rubbish; while, on the
top of the water, there is usually found a film of dust and soot, so as to
render the water most repulsive to the sight. But I am in hopes, that
owing to the regulations of the Water Companies, rendering is necessary
for all butts to have a metallic lining, the storing of water for household
and drinking purposes in the existing recepacles will soon cease.
In all the reports which have been made upon the subject of water
supply to the Metropolis, it is recommended that the constant service should
be adopted. But in adopting this system of water supply, it is necessary
for the protection of the public health, to lay down such rules, as
regards the fittings, as will prevent any contamination of the water, for
unless due care is taken by all householders receiving water on the constant
service, not only will there be danger to the health of the inmates of any
particular house, but the danger may extend to all those householders who
are supplied by the same service pipe.
In a most valuable report, dated May 13, 1874, made by Dr. Buchanan
to the Local Government Board, on an outbreak of enteric fever in Caius
College, Cambridge, the cause of such outbreak, after a long and careful
inquiry conducted by that gentleman, aided with the valuable assistance of
the Rev. John Lamb, Bursar of Caius College, the Rev. N. M. Ferrers,
Dr. Paget, and Dr. Bradbury, was traced "to the contamination of a
particular section of the College Water Servile."
"As a matter of fact," Dr. Buchanan states that, "most of the
students' servants about the College, and notably those of Tree Court
Staircases, (the locality principally affected,) spoke of the occasional absence
of water from their pantry taps. In Tree Court,(which out of a population of
63 persons, 12 were attacked with fever,) two or three servants said, that after
such an absence, the water would come on 'with a vengeance,' 'like soda
water,' evidently having become mixed with air, with which the pipes had
become charged. The failure of water was mentioned by some servants as
occurring once a month or so ; by others as being more frequent; and the
servant having charge of the first flcor and higher floors of staircase O,
spoke of it as a thing that happened two or three times a week.
"Under a really constant system of high pressure water-service it is
plain that pipes could not have thus got filled with air.
This intermission must have gone on to the extent of allowing the whole
horizontal service-main of Tree Court to have become emptied of water, if