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29
will be buried there for the future, except in family graves. In
addition to these I have had some correspondence with the
Rector of Hackney respecting the interments in the Old Churchyard,
as I am not satisfied as to the relationship of some of those
who have been buried there in the so called family graves.
During the hot weather numerous complaints were made
respecting the bad state of the water in the Regents Canal, so
that I made repeated inspections of the Canal and laid a report
before you on the 29th of September asking for an order to take
proceedings against the Company in conjunction with Dr.
Sutton the Medical Officer of Health of Shoreditoh, and with
Dr. Sarvis of Bethnal Green. As heavy rain set in about that
time and the weather became cool, it was deemed advisable to
postpone any action until the following year. A similar course
was adopted as regards the Bathing Lake, Victoria Park, in
which there were considerable deposits of offensive mud and the
water was in a very dirty state,
Much dissatisfaction has been expressed, at intervals during
the year, respecting the quantity and quality of the water
supply. I have examined the water of the East London and
New River Companies on many occasions, and always found it
bright and wholesome when drawn from the main, but often the
reverse when drawn from cisterns or water butts. Dr. Letheby
reported that the amount of organic matter in the water supplied
by these Companies was very small, the average in the New
River water being about the thirtieth part of a grain per gallon
and in the East London rather more than the sixteenth part of
a grain per gallon. This quantity could not exercise any
appreciable prejudicial influence on the health of those who
drank it unfiltered, although on reading the Reports of the
Registrar General many persons might think that the words