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42
the field led to an undertaking that no nuisance should be caused
in future by deposit of breeze or burning of bricks; and so far
there has been no cause for complaint.
Overcrowding.—Ten cases of overcrowding of dwelling houses
came under observation and were dealt with by notice which was
complied with in every case.
Common Lodging Houses.
There are no Common Lodging Houses in the District.
Houses Let in Lodgings.
There are eleven houses let in lodgings on the register, and
four contraventions of the bye-laws in connection therewith, were
dealt with during the year.
Movable Dwellings—Caravans.
Fourteen movable dwellings came under observation during
the year.
Offensive Trades.
No offensive trades as scheduled in the Public Health Acts are
carried on in the district.
Water Supply.
The South-West Suburban Water Company whose resevoirs
are at Egham, supply the whole of the district, with the exception,
of a small area on the south side of the district (Adelaide Estate),
and a few houses at North Hyde. With a view to ensuring a
constant and sufficient supply at adequate pressure, the South-West
Suburban Company have a water tower on their premises at
Southall with a capacity of about 300,000 gallons. Since 1901,
the quality of the water supply has engaged the attention of the
Council, and periodically samples have been submitted for analysis
to the Public Analyst; this has been done with decreasing
frequency, as the reports as to its purity were more or less
favourable.
During the latter part of November, there was an unusual
prevalence of cases ef Diarrhoea in the district, many of which
were of very severe character, and presented the general features
of Cholera. The prevalence of an illness of this character at
once aroused suspicion as to the water supply being responsible.
I made particular enquiries in a number of these cases which
occurred in my own practice, and except in one case there was no
evidence forthcoming as to the cause; nothing in common had
been consumed by the patients except water from the public
supply, but against this being responsible was the fact that there
was not more than one case in each house.