158 
Sanitary Effects of Land Draining. 
capacious enough to cany the immense body of water brought down 
from the neighbouring hills and country liigher up, which, in heavy 
rains, sometimes takes place so rapidly as to completely overflow the 
banks in twenty-four hours ; but besides the casual or accidental giving 
way of the banks of the rivers, it is sometimes done by interested persons 
for the purpose of warding off the mischief from themselves by throwing 
it on their neighbours. 
" When these floods occur in the winter season, and there is but little 
herbage, or early in the spring, and are followed by dry weather, the 
surface of the ground becomes dry and healthy, and they are then highly 
beneficial to the land, and but little prejudicial to the health of the sur- 
rounding inhabitants; but when, as is sometimes the case, these floods 
take place late in April, May, and June, and cover hundreds of acres of 
hay, some cut and some uncut, and which must of course rot on the 
ground, the effluvia and stench are then often unbearable, and highly 
prejudicial to the health of the neighbouring villages, and it is sometimes 
years before the land recovers its healthy state, producing nothing but 
rank herbage, and causing agues, fevers, dysentery, and numerous other 
diseases. Many of these evils may, I think, be remedied if the owners 
of large estates in this neighbourhood would interest themselves in the 
matter : I am persuaded the increased value of their property would 
amply repay the outlay necessary for the purpose. When the land 
is in this unhealthy state, it ajjpears to be equally prejudicial to the 
animal as the human subject, producing numerous diseases among 
cattle, particularly among sheep, many farmers losing the whole of their 
flocks. 
" Although much remains to be done to remedy the mischief com- 
plained of, yet a considerable improvement has taken ])lace within the 
last twenty years by enclosing many of the large commons, and by that 
means partially draining them ; and also by enlarging the back dr.ains 
which carry the water to a lower level into the main river, by which 
means it is carried off much sooner, and less mischief is done, than if it 
remained longer on the surface of the land. 
" It is stated in a very old history of Somerset, that about 300 years 
ago, nearly the whole of the inhabitants of Kingsbury, Muchelney, and 
Long Load, were carried off by a pestilence (without doubt meaning a 
malignant fever) ; and that for many years afterwards it was considered 
so unhealthy that it was inhabited solely by outlaws, and persons of the 
worst character, a clear proof the country is in a much healthier state 
now than it was in former times. 
" 1\\ addition to the more general causes of disease arising from the 
flat state of the country, and its liability to inundations, are many others 
of a more local character, and much easier of removal, in the village of 
Kingsbury; and in many others there are numerous pits or ponds in the 
winter season filled with muddy water, and, in summer, mud alone : 
these arc often situated in the front or at the back of the cottages, and 
are receptacles for all manner of filth, and in certain seasons are pro- 
ductive of very serious diseases, and at all times highly injurious to 
health. Besides the mud pits above mentioned, there is scarcely a cot- 
tage that is not surrounded with all manner of filth, oftentimes close to 
