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existed amongst them to a considerable extent. It is much to be feared
that milk supplied from animals affected by it is quite unfit for human
consumption. Dr. Letheby, in his Report to the City Commission of
Feb. 4, ult., states, on the authority of Jacob and Professor Hertwig,
that it has been found to be positively poisonous, and has caused
eruptive fever in persons who have drank it. The amended Local
Management Act contains a clause for compelling the licensing of cowsheds,
which it is hoped will exercise a most beneficial influence on the
health of the cows.
DRAINAGE.
The want of drainage in several localities, both of Hammersmith
and Fulham, still forms a serious drawback to sanitary measures. In
the latter especially, this remark applies to almost the entire parish,
and the miserable character of its cottage property generally, is likely
always, even under the advantages of good sewerage, to prove conducive
not only to a high rate of mortality, but inevitably also to a
large proportion of sickness, not necessarily fatal, though unequivocably
tending to an unnecessary charge upon the poor-rate. It is to be
hoped then, that whilst attention is being paid to the providing of the
former great sanitary appliance, some care will be bestowed on the improvement
of the dwellings of our poor, either by the private proprietors
thereof, or by some public effort to purchase and improve, or to build
anew. I beg to annex a Report, recently published by the Metropolitan
Association, for improving the dwellings of the industrious classes,
shewing the successful results of their operations.*
WATER SUPPLY.
But of all the defects in our sanitary condition which it is my duty
to lay before you, there is none of more vital importance than that of
water supply. In all the investigations which have been made in the
question of public Hygeine, no subject has ever more prominently
forced itself on the scientific inquirer than that of the necessity of pure
* METROPOLITAN ASSOCIATION.
" The directors of this association, for improving the dwellings of the industrious
classes, state in their report to the shareholders that the dwellings for 414 families
in eight different parts of London cost 74,420/., the gross rents for the year ending
31st of March last, amounted to 6053/., and the expenses to 2876/., leaving a
profit of 3137/. Two chambers for 234 and 128 single men respectively cost
15,194/., the gross rents for the year amounted to 1866/., and the total charges
to 1886/., showing a loss of 20/. The mortality in the entire property of the
association had during the year been 40, out of an average population of 2496,
being at the rate of 16 per 1000; 23 of the deaths were of children under 10 years
of age. It appeared, therefore, that the average rate of mortality in the buildings
of the association had been at the rate of 16 per 1000, while that of the metropolis
generally had been 23 per 1000. The net profits of the year exceeded those of the
preceding year by 192/., and amount altogether to 2625/., sufficient to pay a
dividend of 27/8 per cent., but the directors recommend that a dividend of 2½ per
cent., free of income-tax, shoidd be declared, which would leave a balance of about
351/. to be carried to the guarantee fund, increasing that fund to 2008/."