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absence of smell from the sewers were against the latter
supposition. A little enquiry as to the milk supply shewed
that the inhabitants received their milk from several dealers,
who obtained it from different sources. There only remained
the water supply, but the puzzling part was the simultaneous
outbreak at Stamford Hill and at Clapton Common. I
immediately wrote to the Engineer of the East London Water
Company, requesting him to have the Clapton main scoured
out, which was done in less than 24 hours. As I was informed
that a sample of the water had been drawn from a supply pipe
in a house direct from the main, and sent to Mr. Wigner for
analysis, and as I could not readily obtain another sample, I
examined the water at the Town Hall, but did not find
anything unusual in it. The analysis by Mr. Wigner shewed
a slight excess of ammonia and of organic matter, as well as
some mycelium, small fibres and animalculæ in the first sample
sent; and the absence of anything unusual in the second, which
was taken after the main had been flushed. As several fresh
cases occurred the day after the main was scoured, I requested
it to be flushed a second time, which was done, when the outbreak
ceased as rapidly as it had occurred. The cases happened
amongst those only, at least so far as I could ascertain, who
drank unboiled water, and several visitors who partook of
luncheon on the 3rd at Clapton, and drank water, were attacked
with the disease on their return home, whilst two visitors who
drank sherry at luncheon on the same day escaped an attack.
I would mention that I am indebted to Mr. Hanbury for a
copy of Mr. Wigner's analyses.
As the evidence of the outbreak being due to some local
pollution of the water supply was so strong, I went to the
Company's offices at St. Helen's Place, where I was shewn the
position of the water mains at Clapton and Stamford Hill. I
then found that the main at the top of Clapton Common
terminated in a blind end, in which there was not any plug or
valve, so that the water in it beyond the supply pipes had
become "dead," and in my opinion allowed of the growth of