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17
In my report for 1906 1 drew attention to the fact thnt many
streets in Barnes and Mortlake are not, or were not then,
channelled, and that in most instances the sidewalks were not flagpaved,
and in many the curbing was irregular.
I further pointed out that the absence of channelling in roads
such as White Hart Lane, and in areas such as the Westflelds,
Littleworth End, and Lillian Road, was now a matter of sanitary
importance.
1 went on to say that 1 felt sure "that the channelling of
these roads, the macadamizing of some of them, and the making
good the sidewalks of others, together with the diversion of the
storm water, would go a long way towards the reducing the amount
of diphtheria and sore throat which undoubtedly does prevail in
excess in this district."
1 am glad to be able to report that at the time of writing the
work of channelling and flag paving part of the Westflelds is in
progress.
But when this task is completed only a part of that which I
last year indicated as desirable will have been done, and there
is no justification for the suggestion that the flagpaving and
channelling of the Westflelds is equivalent to the stamping out of
diphtheria and scarlet fever.
I believe that as this kind of sanitary work is carried out
throughout the district (and there are many roads besides the
Westflelds where it is needed) that sore throat and diphtheria will
become relatively less frequent.
But with the perpetual increase of the artizan population it
would be absurd to hold out hope that the absolute amount of
disease will yet awhile become less, and it will be a matter for
congratulation indeed if it does not increase.