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It appears to me, upon examination, that the soil about the large block of houses
bounded by Tranquil Yale, Montpelier Vale, and the Heath is seriously contaminated
with the foul liquid from cesspools, &c., and it is of the greatest importance that this
evil should as early as possible be remedied by efficiently draining the locality. In one
house that I have visited, in Montpelier Vale, the pump water is contaminated and unfit
for use. In another foul liquid exudes from the ground. In another the house is
rendered filthy from a cesspool in the kitchen.
It is also important that the drainage of Camden Row, &c., and neighbourhood
adjacent should bo opened into the sewer as soon as possible.
Some houses in this place are in a most dangerously offensive state, and would doubtless
suffer severely if epidemic disease should attack the inhabitants before precautionary
measures can be adopted. A dung heap (Mr. Fox's yard) at the back of some houses in
Tuns Passage is very offensive, although dark liquid is not now running from it as
formerly into the adjacent yards.
Lewisham.—A drain from Church Terrace, Ladywell, appears to me to be still
supplying drainage to the Ravensboume.
The state of the houses in the neighbourhood of the Retreat, Hither Green Lane, is
very bad and much complained of; a sewer is much required to be carried from the
main up to this locality.
Sydenham.—Offensive stable and accumulations at the back of butcher's and greengrocer's,
West Kent Park.
The drainage from Steel's Cottages, adjoining Dartmouth Row, is occasioning as great
a nuisance as arose formerly from all the houses combined, owing to accumulations of
offensive sewage. These should be drained directly, as hot weather may occasion serious
disease if the offensive odours are not removed.
The drainage of Lower Sydenham into the sewer is not at present attended to.
The same may be said of the offensive privies reported at the back of the Dolphin inn
in 1856.
A most filthy ditch, recently partially cleaned, exists in Mr. Colson's field. The
drainage of most of the houses in Park Road Terrace, Dartmouth Park, still runs into
this most offensive ditch.
Pigs kept in Willow Road arc much complained of as a nuisance by the inhabitants of
Albert Road, whose premises abut against them.
Hanover Street requires urgently to be drained and cleansed.

I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON,
Medical Officcr of Health.
Sydenham, April 29th, 1858.
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