View report page

16
I found that, of 49 houses which had had milk from the
Princes Road dairy, only 20 escaped having a case of enteric
fever. On the other hand, only two had the fever out of 150
houses which were stated not to have had this milk. Altogether,
this dairy must have supplied a very large number of
people, probably, at least, 250 houses.
29. In May and June, 33 cases of enteric fever occurred in
Woolwich, nearly all of which, I understand, had milk from
a Woolwich dairy which was supplied by the Princes Road
dairy.
30. The house contained a cellar, where milk was put to
stand for separating the cream. In the cellar was a cupboard
full of old condensed-milk tins.
31. Water Supply.—The dairy was supplied by the Kent
Water Company. There was one tap in the house, and one
situated over the tank. This tank consisted of cemented
brickwork. From it the cows were watered by means of pails.
There was a green deposit on the sides and bottom, and the
water was cloudy, as seen in a bottle. This water was
analysed by Professor Smith, and pronounced unfit for drinking
purposes on account of vegetable debris. Professor Smith also
examined it bacteriologically, with a negative result, as regards
the specific organism of enteric fever. The water from the tap
was also analysed and found to be of the usual good quality of
Kent Company's water. The water pipes supplying the dairy
on both sides were carefully tested by Mr. Duck, chief
Sanitary Inspector, but were found perfectly sound; the water
stood in the pipes without leakage for two days. I was informed
by the Company's Inspector that the water had not
been shut off in this locality within the previous two months.
There was no well or underground tank situated on the
premises,