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and I have suggested that the complainants should embody their wishes in a petition to
the Board.
Measles is endemic at the North Surrey School; 35 cases have occurred there, but
no death has taken place from this disease.
One child is in a precarious state from noma (gangrenous destruction of the cheek), a
disease generally supposed to depend upon impure atmosphere for its cause.
The state of the infirmary at the above-mentioned school, though much improved, is
still in an unsatisfactory state. Drains still exist under the infirmary buildings.
These are, however, to be removed.
The steam from the wash-house in the building at times still permeates the sick
wards, and is not only prejudicial from its smell (the clothes of the sick children are
washed here), but the fact that moisture is a well known medium for conveying infection
renders it extremely objectionable that this arrangement should still be allowed to
exist.
The urinals attached to the infants' play-yard, as well as the closets, are also situate
under and near to the windows of the infirmary, and are at times very offensive and
detrimental to the health of the sick children.
I have represented these and other matters to the Board of Management; but it is intended
to erect immediately a larger play-room for the children at the end of the present
building, thus impeding the free access of air to the infirmary, and to allow the urinals,
&c., to remain in their present improper position.
I think it therefore my paramount duty, as Officer of Health of the district, to mention
these matters to you, and leave the responsibility in your hands.
Blackheath.—Spencer Place. I have received complaints from some of the inhabitants
here respecting an accumulation of refuse from a butcher's, poulterer's, and fishmonger's,
which is at times allowed to remain too long here, and when removed is a
most unpleasant nuisance and detrimental to health. This should be removed every
morning or evening in a covered truck.
The drainage of Camden Row is still progressing, and will be an important improvement.
Much satisfaction is also shown at the improved state of some of the houses in Montpelier
Vale, in consequence of the recent attention to drainage.
Complaints of the state of Paragon Mews have again been made, and I think it is
very important that a drain should also be constructed here.
Lewisham.—It is, I think, important again to remind you that the water supply of
parts of this district has been hitherto totally neglected. The want becomes more and
more urgent, as in some part limited supplies are with difficulty procured, and the drainage
of these localities, in other respects much improved, suffers from its absence, and is
quite insufficient without it.
Sandwell Place is in a state requiring the construction of a small sewer. Some of the
cesspools in this locality are in an offensive and dangerous state.
The boundary ditch at the south west side of Mr. Hadley's premises is in a tainted
state, said to arise from the soil issuing from the houses called Church Terrace and
Church Grove. This also adds to the contamination of the river.
Sydenham.—Offensive openings still exist in the drain into the covered ditch between
Round Hill and the Police Station.
The offensive drainage in Wells Road requires attention. Offensive gullies still exist
at the end of this road and in Jews' Walk.
Offensive accumulations still exist in the ditches at the back of Park Road Terrace,
Dartmouth Park.
Steel's Cottages and Dartmouth Row are still undrained and offensive.
Wellington Terrace, Wells Road, and four houses at the back, drain into an open ditch
at the back of Elliot's Cottage, thence in open ditch by Hayes's strawberry grounds,
and thence across Wells Road.
Dolphin Inn and adjoining premises require proper drainage.
The brewers (Messrs. Courage and Donaldson), have caused an old filthy pond to be
filled in, and have thus cut off the communication of a drain from Miss Mayow's house.
The drainage now runs over the surface into the open ditch, both which are very offensive
and prejudicial to health.
The privies at Jones's are in a very offensive state. At Mr. Wallis's, tailor, next to
Dolphin Inn, the privy is overflowing and runs into Dolphin yard.