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29 [1900
good a one had obtained during each of the last fifteen years only 53,123 persons
would have died instead of 86,320; or in other words 33,197 would be alive to-day
who now are dead, which means an annual saving of 2,212 lives.
The maintenance of the present death-rate is, therefore, well worthy striving
for; it is an aim which should ever be foremost in the minds of the guardians of the
public health of the district, the Aldermen and Councillors as well as the officials.
The object is a great one; for what can be nobler than the saving of human life
And the means to accomplish it are laid down on broad and well defined lines,
which all who are willing to understand cannot fail to appreciate. Much has been
accomplished during the last six years by the Public Health Department, and it is
hoped that even greater results will accrue from its efforts, despite the attempts
made in interested quarters to decry its work. That work stands, however, its own
monument, which no amount of captious criticism can discount. The Public
Health Committee of the late Vestry understood its responsibility towards the
public, and did not hesitate to recommend to that body such additions to the staff,
or such works to be executed as it considered necessary for the welfare of the
parish which it governed. The men who laid the foundations of the Public Health
Department were men whose names will always be looked up to by everyone who
was cognisant of the proceedings of the Vestry. They did a great good for
Islington, and they deserve unstinted credit for what they have done. They lead
the way in sanitation in London, and the example set by Islington has been followed
in every part of London.
It will not, however, be an easy task to maintain the death-rate of the borough
at the low level of the last five years, because of the continual increase and consequent
crowding of the population, the change in the character of the community,
and consequently of its habits, the erection of factories and the consequent smoke,
and the erection of buildings on the vacant land, which it is stated does not now
amount to more than forty acres. But still much may be done, even more than at
present by the systematic registration of tenement houses, which will prevent overcrowding
and ensure more wholesome surroundings; by the insistence of an ample
water supply to every separate set of lodgings; by the firm administration of the
laws relating to adulteration, particularly the adulteration of milk; by the thorough
examination of the food supplies; by the inspection of all places, not merely bakehouses,
where such food is made or prepared; by the more frequent cleansing of
the streets in which the least well-to-do of the community reside, and by the better
keeping of the roads and their channels. These are all necessary to be done, for if
neglected, without doubt, though there may be a saving of money, there will be a
loss of human life, which will make itself apparent in a rising death-rate.*
* Since these words were written the census returns have been issued, and though the improvement
here indicated in the death-rate has not been so great as was thought, yet it has been very
considerable, and therefore, those remarks remain in the main quite true.—A.E.H.