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much higher rate of mortality amongst the inhabitants of these places,
compared with that amongst the dwellers in the better description of
streets and in the open spaces with which Putney abounds, has always
appeared in the Registrar's returns, and doubtless will continue to appear
so long as the class of small landlords persist in shutting their eves to
their real interests, and in refusing, when they have it in their power, to
increase the pecuniary value of their property along with the moral and
physical value of their tenants. I will not say that, in times gone by, we
have been worse off than our neighbours as to the care of our poor;
indeed I rather incline to the belief that, generally, and with few exceptions,
there must have been every disposition shown by the more wealthy
inhabitants to supply the indigent of this parish with home comforts. Had
it been otherwise, 1 much question whether so many of those remarkable
instances of longevity would have obtained a place amongst the ancient
records of the town that are to be found there. These truly interesting
documents abound in such entries as the following: —
"Elizabeth Fisher, aged 100 years, buried June 16, 1667."
"Catherine Farmer, aged 101, buried Nov. 8th, 1747."
"Sarah Watts, from the workhouse, said to be 104, buried June 18,
1766."
"Ann Williams, from the workhouse, aged 109, buried May 7, 1772."
It is true Putney does not now possess a workhouse of its own, nor any
other charitable institution in which compulsory cleanliness, a well regulated
diet, efficient ventilation, and other equally favourable influences are
operating to promote the health and longevity of its inmates; but there
are, nevertheless, a great many persons residing in the parish who give
fair promise to rival in years some of those I have just named.*
But the longevity of so many of the poorer inhabitants of this district
does not by any means afford the only test of its healthy character. In
times of plague and pestilence the locality appears to have escaped in a
remarkable manner the fatality which fell somewhat heavily on neighbouring
parishes—Wandsworth on the one side, and Mortlake on the
other. The burial register of Putney, as I have before stated, was not
commenced until 1620, so that we possess no record of the number of
* A few months since three poor women, natives of the town, were at one time
assigned to my professional care, suffering from severe personal injuries (two from dislocations,
and one from fracture), whose united ages amounted to no less than 273 years,
being respectively 96, 93, and 84. It is a circumstance for some congratulation that all
three have now recovered from their severe injuries, and bid fair to become still more
striking examples of 'Time's envious furrowings.' I have also, within the last month,
been called upon in my official capacity of a District Medical Officer of the Union to
visit a considerable number of the aged poor of this parish, in order to certify to their
iuability to attend the Board of Guardians to obtain a renewal of their relief, and being
curious about the length of days of these venerable persons, I correctly ascertained and
added together the ages of the first ten on my list, and found the amount to be 880
years! This number being divided by 10, will of course give an average of 88 years to
each. The youngest of the ten, I may observe, is now 79 years of age, and the oldest
99. The majority of these persons are 'hale and hearty,' considering that, with one
exception, they have 'fallen into the sear and yellow leaf' of more than octogenarian
decrepitude. Of their age or their poverty I heard but few complaints; hut many were
the lamentations over their abridged powers of locomotion which had necessitated my
visits, since there were but few amongst them who did not pride themselves upon being
in a condition of health far too robust to need the aid of medicine.
D