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46
lation of the reports and accompanying statistics amongst those more
immediately interested in the matters to which they relate, viz., that every
member of the Board, as well as every individual contributor to the
expenses of carrying out the provisions of the Act of Parliament, will have
an opportunity of forming his own conclusions from the same facts, and
hence be in a better position to promote inquiry, to eliminate truth, and
to assist in the accomplishment of such practical measures as may be
really needed for the advancement of the public health of this important
and extensive district.
Gentlemen, judging from the large decrease in the number of deaths in
the entire district during 1856, as shown upon a comparison with the corrected
average of the ten previous years (see Table I., Appendix), the
progress we are making in sanitary improvements cannot be trifling. The
question still to be solved is, can we further reduce our death-rate by
continuing in the course so auspiciously commenced? The zero of the
death scale of that able statician, Dr. Farr, is, I believe, 16 in 1.000. In
my own sub-district this is nearly the position now attained. If we relax
not in our exertions, who shall say how soon we may be able to exhibit an
equally favourable register in respect to the entire district? May the
report conveying the realization of so desirable a result of our labours be
ere long written and presented!
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your very obedient servant,
R. HARLAND WHITEMAN,
Medical Officer of Health for Putney, and Chairman, &c., of the Associated
Health Officers of the Wandsworth District.
High Street, Putney, March, 1857.