No. XXXVI.A.j APPENDIX. 385 



Both my men agree that milk from sewage grass must stand a certain 

 time before it shows signs of putridity, and that they themselves would 

 not hesitate to use sewage grass if the milk is used at once. The milk 

 from the cows of the Croydon sewage farm goes to Croydon and is there 

 consumed. It is alleged that it is sold at Is. a gallon, and sold again to 

 the Croydon workhouse at 10d 



I have before me certificates of the deaths which occurred from fever 

 in the houses near the Croydon sewage- grounds, which I give in detail : 



No. 1868. 



73. Typhoid fever, 19 days ; congestion of brain. 

 95. Typhoid fever, 16 days ; congestion of brain. 



1869. 

 243. Enteric fever ; ulceration of bowels. 



249. Enteric fever. 



250. Fever. 



286. Peritonitis; pleuropneumonia. 

 336. Scarlatina maligna, 14 days. 

 350. Gastritis, 4 days. 

 359. Scarlet fever, 9 days. 



375. Scarlet fever ; convulsions. 



1870. 



376. Scarlet fever ; convulsions. 



395. Diphtheria ; inflammation of chest, 1 week. 



436. Malignant scarlet fever, 5 days. 



485. Scarlatina, 7 days ; effusion of brain, 48 hours. 



489. Scarlatina, 14 days ; albuminuria, 5 days. 



490. Scarlatina, 5 weeks ; albuminuria, 14 days. 

 498. Scarlatina, 18 days ; albuminuria. 



22. Scarlatina, 19 days. 



65. Scarlatina, 11 days ; diphtheria, 5 days. 



As about 20 cases of illness occur for every one of death, it follows 

 that immediately surrounding the sewage-ground not less than 380 cases 

 occurred between the 21st May, 1868, and the 4th August, 1870, the period 

 over which I had certificates beside me. 



Town sewage-grounds are really in some cases pestilential marshes, 

 where putrid matter is taken from the courts and alleys of the towns and 

 carried before the drawing-room windows of suburban houses. 



During the discussion the effect of the solid matter deposited upon the 

 stems of the grass has very properly been considered, though I restricted 

 my remarks to the effect of putrid sewage on the juices of the plant. 



At any moment some malignant form of fever may break out on ill- 

 managed sewage farms, as similar fevers have originated at Marseilles 

 from a neglect of the laws of health. 



All vegetables are affected by putrid sewage. Asparagus is rendered 

 particularly offensive. The whole cabbage tribe are easily rendered parti- 

 cularly offensive, and even the delicious strawberry becomes disgusting 

 when watered with putrid manures. 



2 c 



