View report page

11
the Parish to be closed, as long as there was any
danger from Diarrhoea or Cholera. In doing this I
only followed the example of a Committee appointed
by your Vestry in 1855, and which recommended
that both on the ground of their liability to special
contamination, and their constant habitual and
unavoidable impurity, the surface wells of the
Parish be closed and not allowed to be resorted to
for drinking purposes at all. In my Report for the
year 1857, I published letters from J. Simon, Esq.
Medical Officer of the Privy Council, from Dr.
Letheby, Medical Officer of Health of the City of
London, the late Dr. R. D. Thomson, and thirty
other Medical Officers of Health in London; all
strongly recommending the permanent closure of
the surface wells of London, on account of their
necessary and habitual impurity, and the consequent
danger to the health of those who drink water from
this source.
TYPHUS FEVER.
Under the head of Typhus Fever is included a
fever of analogous symptoms, which is known by the
names of Gastric, Typhoid, and Drain Fever. These
fevers prevail extensively in London at all times, and
during the year 1865 were epidemic. It is a matter
for congratulation, that whilst all around were suffering
from these diseases during that year, that but ten
persons lost their lives in Saint James's. Although