34 s of many iiiclirecfc advantages in addition to its direct effect in preventing the spread of this terrible scourge. Death registration has been rendered more compete, attention has been called to the unhealthy conditions of life and the need for local improvements, Avhile the medical staff have received a sound and efficient training. The total sum spent b}'- the Public Health Dej)artment in combating plague during the Avhole of this period has not amounted to more than £E.'249,000 or about i'E. 25,000 a-year.

37. Infant Mortality.

Last summer the death rate of children under one year assumed unusual proportions in Cairo. The weekly rate, Avhich is about 105 on the average, rose to 130 in the latter part of March, 188 toAvards the end of April, and 654 in the middle of May. The figures for the next four Aveeks aA’eraged 573, the maximum reached being 700. Then came a sudden c]rop to 248 in July, folloAved by a further gradual decline till in December the mean of the previous Avinler Avas reached. High infant mortality may be observed during the summer in all hot countries, being generally due to digestive troubles, but the immediate cause of the unusually serious outbreak in Cairo last year has not so far been discoA’ered. Careful and thorough iuA’estigation is necessary before any definite conclusion can be arrived at, and it is hoped that some steps may be possible in this direction during the approaching hot Aveather. In any case, it is certainly desirable to do all that is possible to educate mothers in habits of care and cleanliness and in the rational bringing up of children. A most useful lead in this direction has been given by the Lady Cromer Dispensaries, Avhich are endeavouring to instil elementary ideas on the subject among the poorer classe.s. It is understood that the Princesses of the Khedivial family have recentlv decided to establish a society for the protection of infant life, and a general movement on these lines amongst the Avives and daughters of the Avell-to-do might be expected to produce great improvement in existing conditions.

38. Cairo Water Supply.

For nearly three years the question of the AAmter supply of Cairo has been under consideration, and I have now to report that the Government have at length arrived at a definite conclusion in regard to this important matter. It Avill be remembered that in 1903 it Avas decided to obtain the Avater supply for Cairo from deep Avells at IIod-el-F 'arag instead of from the Nile. Subsequently numerous complaints arose as to the quality of the neAv AA'ater, and the natiA-e population evinced a very strong feeling in favour of the direct supply from the Nile. An international commission Avas accordingly appointed in 1907 to investigate the question. The report of that commission Avas of an unsatisfactory nature, as it did not come to any definite conclusion on the main point at issue, namelj*, the relative merits of filtered Nile AA'ater as compared AAdth deep-'.vell Avater, and further experiments Avere recommended Avith a view to seeing whether it was possible to devise some method of removing the defects Avhich admittedly existed in the Avell supply. It became therefore necessary to submit the whole subject to a .second examination in order to arrive at a practical decision as to Avhat .steps it Avas desirable to take, and a committee, presided over by Mr. Webb, the late Adviser to the Public 'Works Ministry, and including among its members the Director-General of the Public Health Department, Avas appointed for this purpose. After experiments and deliberations lasting over nearly eighteen months, the committee reported last July, and recommended that, subject to proper precautions being taken as regards intake and filtration, the wells should he abandoned and the water supply taken from the Nile. The Government approved these recommendations, and haA'e noAv arranged Avith the Avater company of Cairo to revert to the river supply under conditions, as regards intalce and filtration, laid down by the Public Health Department.

It is not Avithin my proAuiice to offer an opinion on the scientific and technical points on which the recommendations of the committee are in great measure based, but, from the point of view of the mere layman, I Aenture to think that the following considerations amply justify the measure which has been adopted :— 1. The decision has been arrived at Avith unanimity after prolonged and exhaustive examination of the question in all its bearings and consideration of the vieAvs of all the most competent experts in this country.

2. The bacteriological purity of AA-ell water is of little practical advantage from / > the hygienic standpoint if the population will not drink it, House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.