Dr. Thresh's report report to the Local Government Board on the extensive prevalence of typhoid fever in Southend, Essex / John C. Thresh.

  • Thresh, John C. (John Clough), 1850-1932.
Date:
[1890?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. Thresh's report report to the Local Government Board on the extensive prevalence of typhoid fever in Southend, Essex / John C. Thresh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    suspicion of the reservoir water, viz : line 4, the table following lined, line 8, and line 21. The water having been already found pure at its sources, and suspicion being thus aroused respecting it after passing the reservoir, it would have been much more satisfactory had the suspicion been effectually disposed of by the test of an analysis of a sample from the reservoir. However the Local Board at once suggested to the Water Company the desirability of emptying and cleansing their reservoir and are informed that this was promptly done. Page 16, last par. It is believed that Dr. Thresli’s reference to the “ imperfectly trapped road gullies ” was intended to read “ imperfectly sealed road gullies.” He does not allege the finding of any imperfect trap, neither does he allege having found any imperfectly sealed road gully, nor to having received any evidence of any other person having found one. The Local Board believe, that from the precautions taken, not one could have existed, and that there is no ground for the suggestion contained in the remark in the report. The occasional flooding of yards is admitted, but only at unusually high spring tides. It is by no means “ common.” Steps have already been taken to remedy this, and it is believed that the new sewer about to be laid will complete the remedy. Page 17, par. 1. The flooding of the road referred to in this paragraph, happened twice in the year 1890, viz: on the two occasions when there were extraordinary high spring tides. See last remark as to the remedy. Par 2. The 12 inch branch sewers, referred to in this paragraph, were laid by the owner of a private building estate against the futile protests of the Local Board who declined to incur the expense of unnecessarily enlarging their sewer. The correctness of their view has been proved by the fact that one of these two branch sewers drains one house only, and the other drains five houses. Par. 4, line 6 “ The result now is ” &c. It does not appear to the Local Board that this is by any means the result of what precedes. The Victoria Avenue Sewer is to form part of the large new system referred to in Dr. Thresh’s prefatory letter, but was laid down in advance of that system concurrently with the making of Victoria Avenue. At present only the Great Eastern Railway Station drains into it, and the short 12 inch connection with the Prittlewell Sewer though ample for the present, is temporary onty, pending the completion of the system referred to. Line 16. “ This outfall sewer being inadequate.and certain houses . . . . . being periodically flooded.” The Local Board believe that there is no foundation for either of these statements. The outfall sewer has never been found inadequate except for storm water, for which it was not constructed, and they do not know a single house in the town which is periodically flooded. Page 18, par. 1. Dr. Thresh appears to have been misinformed as to the steps taken to relieve the High Street Sewer. The road gullies which now discharge into a separate drain have so discharged for 20 years, ever since the sewer in the same street was first constructed. The relief has been obtained by diverting some of the sewage into the Prittlewell Sewer run¬ ning parallel with it.