A year ago the city of Worcester opposed any attempt at a remedy ;
and, since that action, these troubles have come. Plow many cases
of illness of children are to happen before something is done? Are
we to go on another year, and then undertake to show that more chil-
dren have been sick, and more schools depleted, onlj' to be met again
with the intimation that our dangers are imaginary? Have j'ou any
reason, gentlemen, to doubt tlie testimony of Mr. Smith? He tells
you that the prevailing troubles in those schools were measles, scarla-
tina, and diphtheria. Now, it may be true, that in an individual case
here or there, there may be a mistake. I will agree with my friends
that it is entirely possible for diseases to be misunderstood and mis-
called, and, in some cases of local excitement, for troubles to be
exaggerated. But, making allowance for all those things, I ask you,
gentlemen, whether you doubt that serious illness among these chil-
dren was due to the polluted atmosphere in which they lived.
Take, then, the testimony of Dr. Wilmot, which you will find on
p. 65 of the report. He is a practising physician living in Farnums-
ville, which is a village of Grafton, He is questioned as follows : —

"Q.— From your experience in Farnumsville, what do you say as to the
effect upon the general health of the people of the present pollution of the
river? A. — l should say it was decidedly injurious.
"Q.— Your practice is not confined to Farnumsville, but extends, does it
not, to Saundersville. Wilkinsonville, and other villages? A. — Saundersvllle
Wllkinsonville, Sutton, and down as far as Whitins' and North Uxbridge.
