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12
Chertsey, Staines, Windsor, Eton, Reading, Oxford, and a host of minor places,
all pour their filthy refuse into its stream, always flowing in an uninterrupted
current towards the point from which it is drawn for London use. It appears
therefore a matter of doubt whether the processes of purification and filtration
adopted by the various Water Companies deriving their water from the Thames,
are Yet as near perfection as they ought to be.
The following table shows the relative impurities of the water under the circumstances
spoken of.
Date.
State
of
Tide.
THAMES WATER,
taken at Hammersmith Bridge.
As supplied to Loudon
by the various Public
Companies, according
to Dr. R. D. Thompson's
published
Reports.
MEAN.
AVERAGE.
Monthly.
Total
Impurity
per Gallon.
Organic
Impurity
per Gallon.
Total
Impurity
per Gallon.
Organic
Impurity
per Gallon.
Total
Impurity
per Gallon.
Organic
Impurity
per Gallon.
1863.
Grs. or Dgs.
Grs. or Dgs
Grs. or Dgs.
Grs. or Dgs.
Grs. or Dgs.
Grs. or Dgs.
Feb. 16
High
22.68
3.36
22.10
4.32
21.17
1.43
Low
21.52
5.28
Mar. 18
High
20.84
4.04
22.10
5.00
18.58
1.12
Low
23.36
5.96
April 10
High
20.56
2.20
20.86
2.52
17.73
1.04
Low
21.16
2.84
May 27
High
18.40
1.36
18.66
1.66
16.16
.88
Low
18.92
1.96
June 29
High
24.12
3.96
23.46
3.56
16.86
1.53
Low
22.80
3.16
Oct. 5
High
19.20
2.60
25.52
3.82
17.06
2.27
Low
18.84
3.04
„ 23
High
24.24
3.16
Low
39.80
6.48
The cow-houses and slaughter-houses of the District have all undergone the
usual inspections, and I am happy to be able to report favourably on by far the
greater number of them. Very few cases of actual nuisance have arisen from
them, though I have occasionally found it necessary to give recommendations
for improved management. Neither cow-keepers nor butchers however, I am
sure, feel the requirements of the several Acts in any way oppressive, but on the
contrary, admit that a large benefit has been conferred on each branch of trade.
The prevalence of great sickness and mortality amongst the cows of the
London dairies for several years, has been a source of much anxiety and loss to
their owners, whilst the importance of its bearing on the public health cannot
be overrated. There is reason to believe that much of this damage has been
attributable to defective management, but the present fearful ravages of diseases
amongst cattle in the country at large can only be effectually dealt with by
legislative enactment.