Suggestions as to lines for future research : being the substance of the oration delivered at the Hunterian Society of London, February 9th, 1881 / by A.H. Smee.

  • Smee, A. Hutchison (Alfred Hutchison), 1845-1901.
Date:
1881
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Suggestions as to lines for future research : being the substance of the oration delivered at the Hunterian Society of London, February 9th, 1881 / by A.H. Smee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    33/90 (page 25)
    its relation to the distribution of typhoid fever and diarrhoea. It is held by many chemists that the water supply of London, which is drawn principally from the Thames and the Lea, is largely impregnated with previous sewage contamination, and is totally unfit for dietetic purposes. Dr. Frankland in this sense reported of the Thames water during August and September, 1880. Let us see how this belief accords with the views of those who hold that summer diarrhoea is brought about by impure water, and that the mortality from that disease may be taken as a measure of the amount of impurity consumed. On turning to the Tables of Mortality published by the Registrar General, I find the average rate of mortality per week from diarrhoea, for a period between 3rd and 4th weeks of August and ist and 2nd weeks of September, was for every 100,000 persons living as follows :— District. Water Supply. Deaths. South Thames, Kent Co.'s wells 10 East Lea 8 North Thames, New River ... 8 West 5-4 Central ... New River 9 Charlton and Woolwich Chalk wells Barking and Ilford South Essex ... 10 Carshalton Chalk wells 21 Croydon ,j 9 Brighton 8-5