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9
Two Sanitary Committees of urgency were called during the
summer vacation, to enquire into the statements made by the Press
as to the increase of fever, etc., in the district during the short supply
of water by the East London Waterworks Company. There was no
question that the sewers and drains were not properly flushed;
that, during this time of drought and short water-supply, very foul
sewer-gas escaped from the sewer ventilators, and water-closets were
also not properly flushed. A short water-supply, with ill-flushed
drains and sewers during a hot dry summer, must have a tendency to
vitiate the public health, and ought not to be passed over without
notice when death rates for particular years are being considered.