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20
drains tested after this disease is 95, and 21 were found
defective. In my last year's report I stated that when testing
house drains it frequently happened that the smoke from the
testing machine was seen issuing in volumes from the nearest
street gully. I am glad to see that my remarks have borne
fruit, and the necessary trapping of these street gullies (too long
delayed) is being carried out. I cannot altogether approve of
the kind of traps being laid down for various reasons, but while
in their proper working order, they prevent the gases from the
sewers being inhaled by foot passengers, which is of very great
importance.
Cholera.
A great deal of excitement was caused recently by the news
that Cholera was prevalent on a troopship anchored at Plymouth,
and it was feared that unless the greatest possible care
was taken it would find it way into the towns. The Port
Authorities, however, dealt very energetically with the matter,
and not a single case occurred after the troops and passengers
were landed. Precautions were taken in accordance with the
recent regulations issued by the Local Government Board to
all Port Sanitary Authorities dealing with Cholera, Yellow
Fever and Plague. By the Order :
" No person on board an infected ship shall be permitted
"to land unless he satisfies the Medical Officer of the Port
"as to his name, intended place of destination and in"
tended address, which is communicated to the Local
" Sanitary Authorities in order that the Officers of the
" Sanitary Department may keep such persons under
" observation."
In the case of all the passengers from the infected ship this
Order was complied with.
Comparative Statistics.
In table X will be found an interesting comparison of the
mortality rates in Mile End for various causes with those of
London generally, and also the other districts in the Eastern
Division.