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11
portions in each of the other seven Metropolitan waters supplied
during 1876 were as follows:—
Sources.
Maximum.
Minimum.
Average.
Deep Wells
Kent
1.0
1.0
1.0
River Lea
New River
3.3
0.9
1.9
East London
4.0
1.7
2.8
Thames
West Middlesex
6.7
1.8
3.3
Grand Junction
7.6
1.9
3.6
Chelsea
7.0
1.9
3.9
Lambeth
6.2
1.7
4.0
Southwark
9.5
2.0
4.4
This table shows that whilst all the river waters are, on the
average, of a much lower quality than the deep-well water of the
Kent Company, the degree of their impurity varies between wide
limits; thus, the maximum proportion of organic impurity in the
Southwark Company's water was nearly three times as great as
that in the New River Company's supply.
Gas Examination.
The average illuminating power of the Gas supplied by the
Phoenix Company, as tested by Letheby's Photometer, according
to the requirements of the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860, was equal to
14.4 sperm candles. The highest illuminating power was equal to
15.8, and the lowest 13.8 candles. The average illuminating
power was rather higher than during the preceding year; occasionally
traces of ammonia were present; sulphuretted hydrogen was
never detected.
I purpose to conclude this Report by referring to a matter which
requires urgent attention, it relates to the necessity of stringent
legislative measures to compel the public to act promptly in the
interests of the whole community. As the Act now stands, a case
of infectious disease is brought to the notice of the Medical Officer
of Health circuitously, or, perhaps, not at all.
The householder, in many cases, is anxious it should not be
known that any occupant or servant in his house is suffering from
a contagious disease, on account of injury to his business or otherwise,
so that the malady is kept secret until either the disease
spreads or death occurs, when it is too late to render efficient
assistance.