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area, viz.:- Cowper, Dryden and Milton Roads, the part of Haydons
Road opposite these roads, and Wandle and Leyton Roads.
In looking for the cause of this excessive mortality, I have first
considered generally the contributary causes or excitants of
Diarrhoea as follows:—
1. Meteorological conditions, e.g., 3ft. to 4ft. earth temperature
of about 55 degrees Far., low rainfall.
2. Topographical and geological conditions, e.g., low lying, flat,
and water-logged positions, with a damp subsoil.
3. Polluted condition of soil, arising from defective sewers and
drains, leaky cesspools, made grounds, etc.
4. Insanitary and dirty surroundings in and around houses,
e.g., domestic darkness and general dirtiness of dwellings, overcrowding,
emanations from foul and offensive accumulations in
ashpits and dustbins, accumulations of manure, vegetable refuse and
the throwing of liquid refuse on ground immediately adjoining
dwellings
5. Tainted foods and impure water, e.g., milk and other things
kept in living and bed rooms, or in badly ventilated places, such as
cupboards under stairs where it is exposed to emanations from the
earth, w c.'s, sinks, accumulations of manure, etc., etc., or in dirty
jugs. Drinking water charged with vegetable matter from dirty and
uncovered cisterns.
6. Improper or artificial feeding, maternal neglect arising from
outdoor employment of mothers or otherwise, such as working in
laundries, charing, etc.; the use of cordials and soothing mixtures,
early and improvident marriages, constitutional weakness of parents,
and debility of children (congenital, or the result of previous illnesses,
insanitation, etc.)
7. Illegitimacy.
In their bearing on the area in question:—
1. Shewn graphically on the chart.
2. The streets before mentioned are the lowest lying in the
Borough, the road surface being from 41ft. to 41ft.6in. above Ordnance
Datum Line, and ate also the poorest in the District. The houses
are on damp and porous ground, which before being built upon was
farm land, or was cultivated as market gardens and allotments, which,
even in the dry season now, is kept more or less in a constant state of
dampness owing to che close proximity of underground or subsoil
water.
3. Owing to the large increase in the number of houses in recent
years draining into the main sewer which passes through this part of
the District, it is in times of heavy rains surcharged, and heading back
occurs in some of the tributary sewers and house drains. These