Report on the effects of sewage contamination upon the River Thames / by William Odling.

  • William Odling
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the effects of sewage contamination upon the River Thames / by William Odling. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    the rain water to its original source the sea. Thus, from the sea, into the air, over the earth, and back again to the sea, do we find water ever journeying in its prescribed circle. Now the rain-fall is the great public scavenger. First it cleanses the atmosphere, washing from it many impurities, particularly certain nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia and nitric acid, which result from the decomposition of organic matter. Then it purifies the earth, scouring from its surface, and dissolving from its substance, refuse of every description. Hence we find that the purest river water differs from rain water by the sub- stances it has derived from the soil, while rain water differs from evaporated water by the substances it has derived from the air. Moreover, we find the water of every river has its own specific character, dependent upon the nature of the district from which it has drained. In common with most large rivers, the Thames is well supplied with variously sized tributaries which empty them- selves at different points of its course, from its origin as a distinct river, down to its efflux in the sea. Such, for instance are the Wan die, the Effra, the Fleet, the Ravensboume, &c. Most of our existing main sewers were originally the natural tributaries of the Thames, each carrying into the main river, the drainage from its own locality. At one time the minor streams and the main river, though constituted almost entirely oj drainage, did not become offensive. All were fulfilling their natural functions, all were exercising efficiently their natural self-purifying powers. But in course of time, through an increasing density of population, and a consequent disuse of cesspools, the smaller tributaries were no longer capable of maintaining themselves in a wholesome state. The purifying powers which enabled them to withstand the influx of a certain amount of impurity, were insufficient to destroy the daily
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