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These remarks, obviously, will not apply to any institutions or public bodies
who may desire to make use of your Hospital for their patients.
For these it is their bounden duty to provide, a duty which they should
certainly be legally forced to fulfil, and if it answers their purpose to arrange
with the Port Sanitary Authority to perform their work, they must be
prepared to pay liberally for the privilege. They cannot in any way part
with their obligations, and cannot demand as a right what the Port Sanitary
Authority is prepared to concede as a favour.
THE RIVER AND SEWAGE.
The condition of the river water during the early summer has naturally
greatly exercised the mind of your Medical Officer.
The London County Council, inheriting a legacy of a costly and useless
sewage scheme, has not yet had any opportunity of investigating the matter
and deciding as to its future action.
The precipitation works are being proceeded with, and will probably be
complete in about twelve months' time.
The Barking outfall has been in operation for the last six months.
The effect, so far as the condition of the river water is concerned, has been
exactly what those who best understand the question predicted, viz., a thorough
and complete failure.
This precipitation, at enormous cost, is intended as a temporary and palliative
measure which having been commenced must be finished.
The whole question of the disposal of the sewage of the Metropolis has been
referred to eminent engineers, with instructions to report fully as to the best
method and its approximate cost.
During the last week of May and the early part of June, the whole
river from Limehouse to Purfleet was in a fearful condition, certainly as bad
as at any time during the last ten years.
The precipitation and deodorization appeared not to have the slightest effect.
Happily, however, the summer up to the present time has been extremely
cold and wet.
In consequence of the low temperature, and almost continuous rain, the
horrible condition of affairs has gradually improved, and now during the first
week of July the water is fairly good.