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London school of hygiene and tropical medicine
PUBLIC HEALTH T h e stream, in addition to the outflow f r o m the lake, received water of obviously purer character from streamlets and springs. T h e lal~e was used as a source of supply by the British forces; the water was chlorinated before use for drinking. Two samples from the neighbourhood of Poperinghe illustrate clearly pollution derived by the water in its passages through a populons place from which surface washings have entered : - Vleterbeck. Canal. Free and saline ammonia ... 0'04 0"27 Albuminoid ammonia ... 0"032 0'17 Oxygen absorbed . . . . . . 0"38 0'79 Solids (total) ...... 40 50 Hardness (total) ...... 12'5 11'5 Chlorine ......... 3"3 5"2 T h e Eybecque, the boundary stream between France and Belgium, had been used as a source of drinking water for horses, and this supply was suspected to have produced colic in these animals. With frec and saline a m m o n i a I 0 part per I00,000, albuminoid 0"1 part, oxygen absorbed 2 parts and chlorine 5"4, it gave a result approximately equivalent to a mixture of 2 parts of sewage to 1 part of pure river water. One therefore did not rule it out as a possible source of colic! Last of all are the two samples from the Canal de l'Aa, St. Momelin, and the Canal de la Colme at Schapstadt, north-west of St. Omer. These canal waters were relatively pure, 0"006 and 0"004 part of free and saline a m m o n i a and only in the Canal de la Cohne was the albuminoid figure high. Oxygen absorbed was not excessive, 0"42 and 0"38. Note also, nitrate, 0"01, in the Aa, chlorine was only 2'5 and 2"6. Bacteriological results were, lactose fermenters absent in 0"I, 0"2, 0'5 ml., present in 1 ml. (Colme) and ahsent in 0"1, 0"2, 0"5, t'0 ml., present in 10 ml. (Aa). Compare the averages f o r : - (a) these two fairly pure canal waters, (b) the Vleterbeek stream at Poperinghe, (c) the Ypres moats and Yser canal. Ypres Canals, Vletermoats Colme beek, and Yser Rivers and streams. and Aa. Poperinghe. Canal. Free and saline ammonia 0'005 0"04 0"069 Albuminoid ammonia ... 0"023 0"032 0"099 Oxygen absorbed ... 0"40 0"38 0"48 Chlorine ...... 2"45 3"3 8"1 Let us now turn f r o m the demonstration of the increasing pollution of rivers, canals and streams as we pass from the base to the forward area, and compare the results with a s u m m a r y of those previously obtained from the examination of shallow well waters, again using the three divisions, West 30
NOVEMBER (St. Omer), Mid (Poperinghe), and East (Ypres), or respectively, base, intermediate and forward areas. West or Mid or East or St. Omer Poperinghe Ypres Area. Area. Area. (Average (Average (Average of 18 of 12 of 14 Shallow Wells. samples.) samples.) samples.) Free ammonia ... 0"019 0"026 0'246 Albuminoid ammonia ... 0"036 0"045 0'126 Oxygen absorbed ... 0'16 0"23 1'07 Total solids ...... 53 65 151) Total hardness . . . . . . 15"0 17"2 27"6 Chlorine as chlorides ... 5'3 9"5 2l"7 This table demonstrates clearly the increasing pollution of shallow wells as we pass from the comparatively undisturbed base area near St. O m e r to the devastated area in front of and around Ypres, the scene of so m a n y struggles between opposing armies that the soil had become saturated with decomposing organic material. It is the hope of the writer that in compiling these notes and adding his comments he m a y have made some slight contribution to the study of the water supply problems which confront us in peace no less than in war.
LONDON
SCHOOL OF H Y G I E N E TROPICAL MEDICINE
AND
It has been decided that the office and certain departments of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shall remain for the present at the School building in Keppel Street, Gower Street. Although courses normally lasting an academic year have necessarily had to be discontinued for the time being, it is hoped in the near future to provide short courses of instruction in tropical medicine and hygiene. The School library will be open between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. iSaturdays 10 a.m. and 12 noon).and the librarian will be glad to answer inquiries by post or telephone.
Examinations [or Sanitary Inspectors' Certificates.The difficulties involved in holding evening classes at the present time are accentuated in the case of student sanitary inspectors by the small number who live near the institutes holding approved courses; also students have to travel much greater distances to their classes than is the case of most other evening students. The Royal Sanitary Institute and Sanitary Inspectors' Examination Joint Board have therefore reluctantly decided that it is impossible in present circumstances to insist on attendance at an approved course and have temporarily suspended Regulation 3 for the Sanitary Inspectors' Examination. The standard required from candidates and the scope of the examination wdl be unaltered, and candidates should attend a course if possible.
NOVEMBER (St. Omer), Mid (Poperinghe), and East (Ypres), or respectively, base, intermediate and forward areas. West or Mid or East or St. Omer Poperinghe Ypres Area. Area. Area. (Average (Average (Average of 18 of 12 of 14 Shallow Wells. samples.) samples.) samples.) Free ammonia ... 0"019 0"026 0'246 Albuminoid ammonia ... 0"036 0"045 0'126 Oxygen absorbed ... 0'16 0"23 1'07 Total solids ...... 53 65 151) Total hardness . . . . . . 15"0 17"2 27"6 Chlorine as chlorides ... 5'3 9"5 2l"7 This table demonstrates clearly the increasing pollution of shallow wells as we pass from the comparatively undisturbed base area near St. O m e r to the devastated area in front of and around Ypres, the scene of so m a n y struggles between opposing armies that the soil had become saturated with decomposing organic material. It is the hope of the writer that in compiling these notes and adding his comments he m a y have made some slight contribution to the study of the water supply problems which confront us in peace no less than in war.
LONDON
SCHOOL OF H Y G I E N E TROPICAL MEDICINE
AND
It has been decided that the office and certain departments of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine shall remain for the present at the School building in Keppel Street, Gower Street. Although courses normally lasting an academic year have necessarily had to be discontinued for the time being, it is hoped in the near future to provide short courses of instruction in tropical medicine and hygiene. The School library will be open between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. iSaturdays 10 a.m. and 12 noon).and the librarian will be glad to answer inquiries by post or telephone.
Examinations [or Sanitary Inspectors' Certificates.The difficulties involved in holding evening classes at the present time are accentuated in the case of student sanitary inspectors by the small number who live near the institutes holding approved courses; also students have to travel much greater distances to their classes than is the case of most other evening students. The Royal Sanitary Institute and Sanitary Inspectors' Examination Joint Board have therefore reluctantly decided that it is impossible in present circumstances to insist on attendance at an approved course and have temporarily suspended Regulation 3 for the Sanitary Inspectors' Examination. The standard required from candidates and the scope of the examination wdl be unaltered, and candidates should attend a course if possible.