London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St James's 1866

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St James's, Westminster]

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43
"can occur in no other way but by our pumps. I
"have that morning examined the water from them
"afresh, and I have no hesitation in pronouncing
"there dangerous. A single hot day might turn the
"water in any one of them into a state of fermentation,
"in which they would be dangerous to drink. A
"single rat forming a connection between a cesspool
"and one of these wells, might repeal the catas"trophe
of 1854. I dare not take the responsibility
"of remaining quiet whilst these pumps are open,
"and at the risk of offending you by my pertinacity,
"I implore you to order these pumps to be shut,
"that I am not alone in my convictions with regard
"to the danger of these pumps, allow me to read
"a letter which appeared in the Times of Tuesday,
"from two of the most eminent chemists in Europe.
'THE BROAD STREET PUMP.
'TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
'Sir,—We have just heard with surprise that
'this pump, after having been closed for several
'months, has been again opened to the public
'since the outbreak of Cholera in the Metropolis.
'The water from this pump has been repeatedly
'analysed and prouounced unlit for drinking and