43 



" find space for a full notice of its details. The water 

 " supply is not only scanty, but largely polluted hy sew- 

 " age. No wonder the death rate of Canton last year 

 " (21.28 per 1,000) was higher than that of Cardiff 

 " (23.54)." 



" Bad Water and its Influence on Health," 



" A short time ago we directed attention to an outbreak 

 " of typhoid fecer in the Royal Marine Barracks at 

 *' Stonehouse ;* and in reference to it the registrar of the 

 " district reports : — 



" ' The water which was used by the men from a well 

 " adjoining the new wing of the barracks is clear and 

 " sparkling, and apparently much better than that sup- 

 " plied by the Devonport Water Company. In conse- 

 " quence of its heing much in requisition, there was a 

 ^' great drain from its source, which I have every reason 

 " to believe is a very large natural caverti — one of those 

 " which are so often found in the limestone formation. 

 " This cavern is upwards of 500 feet in length, and 

 " over or on its sides about thirty houses have been built. 

 " Persons who do not know of its existence have won- 

 " dered how it is that their cesspits have not required 

 *' to be emptied ; tvhich, however, is no wonder to me, 

 "for I feel convinced that many of the cesspits drain 

 " i7ito it. When the foundation was making for the 

 " new wing of the barracks, I intimated to the clerk of 

 " the works the existence of a large cavern, running 

 " N.E. to S.W, ; and it was ultimately cut into, showing 

 " its presence within about 50 feet from the top of this 

 " very well." 



From the Lancet, 8th February, 1868, giving Professor 

 Frankland's remarks on the water supply of London 

 during January, 1868 : — 



" Professor Frankland's report to the Registrar-General 

 " on the quality of the waters supplied to the metropolis 

 " during last month is more than usually suggestive of 

 " the undesirability of rivers as sources whence to draw 

 " water for potable purposes. Heavy rains caused the 

 " Thames to overflow its banks above the points of intake 



Fever in 

 Marine 

 Barracks at 

 Stonehouse 

 (Plymouth). 

 The Lancet, 

 8th Feb.. 

 1868, with 

 Extract from 

 the Report of 

 the Registrar 

 of the district 



Water used 

 suj^plied from 

 a well. 



Believed to be 

 polluted by 

 cesspits drain- 

 ing into it. 



* Fatal to seven of the maiines. 



