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4
the closing of foul wells from which the larger part of the district
obtained water for domestic use; but that which is most felt and
most essential to the prosperity of the district is the introduction
of the sewerage system. It has, undoubtedly, added to the
comfort of the inhabitants, and has, I believe, been effectual in
lessening the sickness and lowering the death-rate. The substitution
of upright in the place of surface ventilators has removed
a source of great annoyance and injury. There are still some
remaining, but they have not been a trouble so far.
Some of the house drains which have been connected with
the new sewers are not in a satisfactory condition. The old
house drains, as they existed before the sewers were laid, have
been connected without alteration. They were laid in loose soil,
without concrete or any firm bed, and are, consequently, at
different angles, and leaked at the joints. This has proved particularly
mischievous in the cluster of houses forming the Thome
Estate, Barnes. This omission has been remedied in some localities,
viz., St. James's Place, Fitzgerald Road, and Victoria Place,
Mortlake, and should be on the Thome Estate where it is
urgently needed. The converting the private roads into wholesome
and respectable thoroughfares has also helped largely in
improving the health of the inhabitants.
It is remarkable to what an extent the sub-soil water has
diminished during recent years There were few places in the
district 30 years ago where the sub-soil water was more than three
feet below the surface, in some places it was less, but it has been
gradually subsiding, and is not to be reached in most parts of
the district at a less depth than nine or ten feet.
A damp soil has undoubtedly a prejudicial effect on the
health particularly in cases of Phthisis. I give a table which
illustrates this. It will be seen, that although the population has
very largely increased, that the deaths from Phthisis have
diminished.