80 Reviews — Health and Geology combined. 



ford, wlaerein. he clearly shows that its origin may be traced to a 

 contamination of one section of the water-supply. The sufferers had 

 been supplied with water from a new well, situated in the Chalk, 

 which obtained its water not by percolation only, but from a fissure 

 also in the same rock, into which it was easy for excremenlitious im- 

 purities to have entered. Within ten feet of the well were various 

 sewers ; through some cause, the bricks of one of them had become 

 loosened, some escape of its contents ensued, this saturated the Chalk 

 around and reached the water in the well, thence the impurities were 

 supplied to a certain portion of the inhabitants, and 21 deaths en- 

 sued from typhoid fever. 



Dr. R. Thome Thome reports on an Epidemic of Typhoid Fever at 

 Terling in Essex. — Every possible source of pollution both for air and 

 water existed there. The peculiarly porous soil underlying the area 

 was continually absorbing the filth ; the water-supply of the popu- 

 lation was derived from wells, most of them sunk in that excrement- 

 sodden sponge of earth. In consequence, the water was contami- 

 nated, and the inhabitants one by one poisoned. 



Dr. Buchanan reports on the Distribution of Phthisis as affected hy 

 Dampness of Soil. — A general sanitary enquiry entrusted to him in 

 1866, having appeared to show a relation between wetness of soil 

 and prevalence of consumption, the subject was further examined 

 with direct reference to geological considerations. The results are 

 now published. Systematic enquiries were instituted — (1), As to 

 the Local Distribution of Disease, and the circumstances by which it 

 is regulated; and (2), Particular Processes of Disease were investi- 

 gated in scientific detail. With the first of these enquiries only, we 

 have to deal. Among the results, the local distribution of Pulmonary 

 Phthisis stood in particular relief. 



The Memoir is accompanied by a short account of the geological 

 formations of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, by William Whitaker, Esq., 

 B.A., E.G.S., of the Geological Survey of England and Wales, and 

 illustrated by an excellent geological map of the three counties, made 

 up of published and unpublished Survey work. Mr. Whitaker has 

 also furnished a small geological map of Terling, to illustrate the re- 

 lations of phthisis to the character of the soil, and together with Dr. 

 Buchanan has given (1) a short geological account of all the " Ee- 

 gistration Districts," (except in London,) in the three counties. (2 

 An estimate of the population living upon each geological formation 

 in those counties, and then a series of conclusions as to the relation 

 between geological and topographical features, with the consumption, 

 death-rate. 



The following are the general conclusions which result from this 

 inquiry : — 



(1.) Within the counties of Surrey, Kent, and Sussex, there is, 

 broadly speaking, less phthisis among populations living on pervious 

 soils than among populations living on impervious soils. 



(2.) Within the same counties, there is less phthisis among popu- 



