332 APPENDIX. [No. XXVI. 



4th. Are the nitrates the products of animal matter on the surface of the 

 ground washed down by rain into the chalk ? 



I have heard of cases of persons being deterred in times of cholera 

 epidemics from drinking pure spring water because of the tons of pre- 

 existing sewage with which that water was said to be contaminated, 

 and in place thereof have taken the surface-water, springs indeed with 

 perhaps less nitrates, but possibly with cholera poison in an active 

 state. 



It would be desirable if the medical officers of health would unite in 

 remonstrating with the authorities against the fallacy of the doctrine of 

 Pre-existing Sewage and the danger of promulgating such crude theories 

 amongst the populace. It is calculated in the highest degree to suppress 

 truth and promote error, and the officers of health should be fully prepared 

 to deal with the fallacy before another cholera epidemic arises and victims 

 are sacrificed to the influences of crude and undigested theories. 



I have the honour to be, dear Sir, 

 7, FINSBURY CIRCUS, Your obedient servant, 



April 16th, 1869. ALFRED SMEE. 



No. XXYI. 



THE PRIVATE AND SECRET BURIAL-GROUND OF THE 

 ORATORY. REJOINDER TO THE MANIFESTO OF DR. DALGAIRNS, 

 PRINCIPAL OF THE ORATORY. By ALFRED SMEE. 1863. 



THE Oratory has at length spoken, by its Principal, Dr. Dalgairns, and it 

 is my purpose to examine critically every word he has written upon the 

 private and secret burial-ground of the Oratory. 



Dr. Dalgairns declares the burial-ground to be private, but says that 

 it is untrue and inaccurate to call it secret. Surely that is secret which is 

 most carefully kept from everybody's knowledge. The Incumbent of the 

 parish never heard of it, nor the tax-collector of the district, nor the next 

 door neighbour, nor the adjoining proprietor; nor has it ever been 

 gazetted, nor its locality fixed in any public document ; and though I have 

 No. 134 Parliamentary Paper before me, together with an accurate map of 

 their grounds, I cannot tell, nor can anybody tell from these, where the 

 licensed burial-ground really is. 



It is not only secret, but the most secret burial-ground which has been 

 made known to the public. 



Dr. Dalgairns says that the proper protection of the dead ought to be 

 secured and regulated by public legislation. In this we both agree, and I 

 trust that the Government will bring this private and secret burial-ground 

 under the protection of an Act similar to that which governs all the public 

 burial-grounds of this kingdom. 



Dr. Dalgaims says that the burial-ground is in the centre of a small 

 property, but the persons buried are not buried in the centre, but on one 

 side of the ground. So here further confusion as to position exists. The 

 Inspector of Burial-grounds says the burial-ground is stiff clay, without 



