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hill from West to East, the Cemetery Lodge being situated at
the westerly end of the houses. A stream which at that time
received the overflow of cesspools 200 yards away runs down
this valley, but disappears underground where the houses
commence. The soil is a few feet of gravel with a layer of
underlying clayey loam. Of the eight cases four attended
school, three going to one, and the fourth to another. No
local communication between the families could be traced.
Two short streets run up from King's Highway at steep
gradients, but no one in these streets was attacked. These
cases appear to me to point to infection by infiltration of the
soil, the infection being carried from the cesspool in the first
case by the flow of the underground water. This was the
only indication of a localized outbreak.
20. Six cases of Diphtheria having occurred consecutively
in connection with the Infant School in Conway Eoad, I
inspected this school and personally examined the throats of
all the infants present, 166 in number. I found no throats
suggestive of Diphtheria. No further cases occurred after my
visit. I made one or two suggestions to the School Board for
improving the drainage of this school. These were quickly
carried out.
Enteric Fever.
21. There were 214 cases of Enteric Fever notified during
the year, with 30 deaths. This large number was due to a
milk epidemic which occurred in May and June. I reported
fully on this epidemic at the time. The following paragraphs,
Nos. 22-44, are extracted from that report.
22. Previous to May 9th, only six cases of Enteric Fever
had been notified during the year in Plumstead. These all
occurred in East Plumstead, whereas the recent epidemic was