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4
SECOND REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF SAINT PANCRAS, MIDDLESEX,
by
THOMAS HILL1ER, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for the Parish of Saint Pancras.
JUNE 9th, 1856.] [No. 2.
TO THE SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
I am glad to be able to report that a number of the houses near Pancras
Road, which were mentioned in my last Report as being quite unfit for human
habitation, are now being pulled down. "Whilst, however, we thus get rid of a
number of houses, in which disease has been fostered and encouraged, we must
not forget that by these very improvements, there will be many persons obliged to
seek new dwellings, and in many instances they will congregate still more closely
in other densely populated districts. Thus, whilst one locality is improved,
others suffer. This remark is applicable not only to the present case, but to all
similar cases. The improvements which have of late years been effected in St.
Giles's, have been in a great measure at the expense of other districts. At the
present time, there are some parts of this parish, in which the poor people
driven out from St. Giles's have found refuge, and in this way places that
were previously crowded are now much more so. These considerations, in
addition to others which might be adduced, point very strongly to the necessity
of some organization for the purpose of providing the poor with a better class of
dwellings. Whilst old and wretched habitations are being pulled down, let us not
fail to supply new and superior dwellings. It would be premature at present to
enter into any details on this subject; but I trust that the Yestry will consider it of
sufficient importance to require their serious attention. The Model Lodginghouses,
established by the societies for improving the dwellings of the working
classes, have been found to be self-supporting, and to be attended with the
very greatest benefits, both to the health and morals of the inhabitants. In
the Metropolitan Buildings, Old Pancras-road, the average rate of mortality for
the three years, 1850-51-52, was only 13.6 to 1000. The average mortality
for the whole metropolis during the same period was 22 to 1000. This speaks
for itself.
Great advantages have resulted also through the Metropolis from the operation
of the Common Lodging Houses' Act, by which these places are put under the
inspection of the police. In this parish there are only twelve registered
lodging-houses; there are many more used as common lodging-houses, which