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disinfecting, or rather for preventing the putrefaction of, the sewage, at
the sources, not at the outlets, of our sewage.system. The mischief
caused by decomposing sewage is done, in transitu, in its way under our
feet through crowded habitations. To apply our disinfecting remedies
when it reaches the Thames, where it is not proved to have done any
harm, is absurd. If some contrivance could be adopted for discharging
a minute quantity of McDougall's fluid into every water.closet simultaneously
with each discharge of fæcal matter, the security against foul
house drains, sewers, and noxious miasms from street.gulleys and ventilating
shafts, would be almost perfect. I see no insuperable difficulty
in accomplishing this; but in the meantime there is none whatever,—
and it would involve very inconsiderable cost—in pouring regulated
quantities of the disinfecting fluid into the head of every main drain or
sewer. Until this be done, no house is safe against empoisonment by
sewer.gases. These steal in, in spite of pipe.drains and the ordinary
traps. At present, it remains, I am convinced from the clearest personal
observation, absolutely necessary to cut.off the back.communication
from the sewer to the house.drain, by the interposition of a special
apparatus. I can speak positively of the efficacy of the ingenious contrivance
of Mr. Lovegrove, the Surveyor for the Hackney District.
Small.Pox and Vaccination.—During the year 1859, 87 persons
died of Small.Pox in Shoreditch; and although during 1860 only 23
died from this cause, we are not justified in congratulating ourselves
upon the diminished ravages of a disease, which it almost completely in
our power to prevent, unless we can show that our preventive means
have been employed to the fullest extent. I am afraid this cannot be
shewn. The Vaccination Acts are still imperfect, and their provisions
are imperfectly carried out. I place before you a