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45
Owing to the inconvenience experienced by the inhabitants of
the affected parishes, and the danger and injury to health to which
they had been exposed, representations were made to the Local
Government Board for an inquiry into the causes and consequences
of the failure of the Company to continue its constant service.
As a result of these representations, the following letter, dated 3rd
September, 1895, was received from the Local Government Board:—
"I am directed by the President of the Local Government
Board to state that having considered the representations which
were submitted by the deputation which attended here on the 30th
ultimo, he has given directions for the holding of an inquiry as
to the circumstances which occasioned a deficiency of the water
supply in the Metropolitan area, comprised in the district of the
East London Water Works Company, the effects of the deficient
water supply, as regards the public health, and the means which
should be adopted with a view to preventing a recurrence of such
deficiency."
Accordingly, on the 1st October, 1895, the inquiry was opened
by two inspectors appointed by the Local Government Board,
Colonel Ducat, R.E., and F. W. Barry, Esq., M.D., and extended
over five days.
In. my evidence before the Inspectors, I presented the following
tables of increased general death-rate in Hackney over that for
Registration London, and increased death-rate from Diarrhoea and
enteritis over remainder of Registration London during the five
weeks of lowest water supply. I may explain that I included gastroenteritis
and enteritis in my calculations, because deaths from
Diarrhœa are often registered under these names and vice-versa,
and it is to diseases of a diarrhœal nature we should look for evidence
of the effects of a scarcity of water, like that experienced last
year.