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72
A death from acute rheumatism is registered at Cross Street, Lewisham, a locality
also before named.
A case of typhoid fever has occurred at the North Surrey Industrial School, but is now
convalescent.
Chicken-pox is also still prevalent in "West Kent Park, Sydenham. (Not yet drained
efficiently).
Small-pox has broken out in a row of houses on the right side of Ravensbourne Bridge,
called Shepherd's Place, and belonging to Mr. Jones, Borough. A case has also occurred
in Hanover Street. In Bridge Street one man has died from this disease, after having
been sent to the Small-pox Hospital, and three children are suffering from a typhoid
type of the same disorder. I have visited the locality, and found the place offensive for
some distance round, from most disgusting privies, with no drainage whatever. These
privies, I am informed, are partially refilled with water as soon as emptied. The inhabitants
here have no water supply other than the river in front, which is here always in
a dirty state, from the constant passage of horses and vehicles through it. It was necessary
that some prompt measures should be adopted to remove these nuisances, and I hope
that the proposed plans have had the effect of removing the nuisances dangerous to health,
and will stay the spread of the existing disease.
Whilst mentioning the above disorder, I may take the opportunity of reminding you
of the extreme danger incurred by conveying patients suffering from infectious diseases
in the public vehicles, and the importance of the question whether such a means of
spreading disease should not be prevented ? It would be well to have a proper invalid
conveyance constructed and kept at the workhouse, as there is no doubt that many
patients lose their lives from the rough handling and uncomfortable posture required in
many vehicles, whilst being conveyed to the public hospitals and asylums in a state of
disease.
I should wish to attract your attention to the fact that there are several other parts of
the district in a state equally dangerous with the one above-mentioned, and that upon
the principle that " prevention is better than cure," remedies should be applied as early
as possible to remove existing causes of disease. Epidemic disease almost invariably
takes its origin in localities of this kind; but its virulence is not necessarily expended
there; and when once it commences there is no prejudging the amount of suffering and
mortality that may take place, nor the amount of pauperism and expense that may be
charged upon the Parish, probably to be avoided entirely by timely and judicious attention
and outlay.
Some houses at Ladywell, Lewisham, to which I have before directed your attention,
are in a most filthy and dangerous state. I have made a house to house visitation there,
and find that 14 families residing in houses belonging to Mr. Couldery, and 4 families
residing in houses belonging to Mr. Collet, together comprising a population of upwards
of 110 persons, are quite without water supply (having been so since the demolition of
the Lady Well), and live in a constant atmosphere of disgusting effluvium, from privies
and ditches quite full, and in close proximity to the houses. The inhabitants inform me
that they are so distressed for water, that they would be willing to dig a well free of
charge, if they were supplied with materials for completing the work. The sewer also
being close at hand, there appears no reason why these houses should not be efficiently
drained, and proper closets constructed, either with the water laid on, or one or more
force pumps to supply cisterns.
Upwards of 150 inhabitants reside upon the opposite side of the road; many of them
are supplied with water from private pumps, but the quantity is limited. The state of
things here is superior to that on the other side of the road, but the old privies and house
drains require carrying into the sewer close by (they are very dangerous in a porous soil
vide First Report J, and then several offensive ditches in the neighbourhood should be
filled in. This should have been done when the sewer was constructed.
Many of the houses in the main street, Lewisham, are yet undrained; they should be
carried into the sewer. Sickness is continually produced from the want of this, as seen
by report of Mr. Brown, surgeon, Lewisham. Dr. Corbould also represents the houses
in Taylor's Lane (before reported upon), unfit for habitation.
Sydenham.—I have found it necessary to apply to the Committee of the New Baptist
Chapel, upon the subject of ventilation, as the architect's plans upon this subject were
not carried out. This has been attended to.
The offensive drainage upon Forest Hill (Camberwell boundary), is removed, a pipe
sewer having been put in.