Dr. Theodore Thomson's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the urban district of Bicester.

  • Thomson, Theodore.
Date:
1896
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Theodore Thomson's report to the Local Government Board on an outbreak of enteric fever in the urban district of Bicester. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    their closure, have'already been referred to : a fourth well in New Buildings was closed on December 12th, 1895. From the foregoing account of enteric fever in Bicester in 1895 and the early part of 1896, and of the circumstances attendant upon it, it is evident that there are many conditions of unhealthy sort in this district. The most prominent of these is water supply ; and the District Council should, without further delay, furnish the inhabitants of Bicester with a sufficient supply of water of undoubted purity. The Authority have not been without previous warning as to the need for such action. In 1890 Mr. Dyson Wood, Medical Officer of Health to the District, wrote, in his report on the outbreak of enteric fever in Bicester, as follows:—In the “ first place, a safe water supply for the district is essential. I am inclined “ to think that no insuperable difficulty need be anticipated under this head.” This constituted one of three recommendations made by Mr. Dyson Wood in that report; and in reference thereto it was unanimously resolved at a meeting of the Sanitary Authority on September 1st, 1890, “ That immediate “ measures be taken to carry out the recommendations, in all particulars, “ contained in the report.” Further report on this subject was made in connection with the recent enteric fever m Bicester by Mr. Dyson Wood, on January 6th of the present year, to the following effect:—■'“ Having regard “ to recent unfavourable analyses of drinking water which have come under “ my notice, and to the knowledge which I possess of the unsafe position of “ numerous other well waters in the town, I am quite of opinion that it is “ necessary for the future safety of Bicester that your Council should, with “ as little delay as possible, take up practically the question of supplying “ the town with a wholesome water supply from an outside source.” It may here be noted that the Urban District Council had already, on November 11th, 1895, resolved that, “ An engineer be engaged to make a survey, and estimate cost of waterworks for the town in view of the “ possibility of the same being found necessary for the future.” The water supply of the town was again under discussion at the Council’s meeting on January 6th, 1896. When I visited Bicester, in March and April of the present year, this subject had not yet passed the stage of discussions and resolutions ; the fever meanwhile continuing to occur in the district. Before leaving Bicester, I met and conferred with the Chairman of the Urban District Council on April 10th, and at that conference I laid especial stress on the need for immediate steps being taken by the Council to provide a sufficient supply of pure water for the inhabitants of Bicester. The Chairman under¬ took to bring the matter under the notice of the Council at their next meeting. As I have indicated, the most pressing need of Bicester is a pure water supply. The District Council, however, should also give attention to measures remedial of other unhealthy conditions described in this report. Defects as regards structure, ventilation, and flushing of sewers, as well as defective conditions of house and yard drainage should be sought out and remedied when discovered. The methods of disposal of excreta in Bicester leave much to be desired, and improvement of these should have the attention of the Council. Much house property in the town is old and dilapidated, and measures should be taken to secure the closure or sufficient improvement of such dwellings. The need for a sufficiency of open space around inhabited houses and for suitable paving of yards attached to them should also receive attention. I have to thank Mr. Tanner, Clerk to the Urban District Council; Mr. Dyson Wood, Medical Officer of Health ; and Mr. Branford, Acting Inspector of Nuisances, for assistance afforded to me in connection with the inquiry which forms the subject of this report. May 8th, 1896. THEODORE THOMSON.