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high (50 per thousand). In Midford Place, where there is considerable crowding,
and the sewer is not deep enough to drain the houses efficiently,* there have
been as many deaths as there are houses (or at the rate of 32 per thousand) in
1858, and 41 as the average of 3 years. In Tottenham Place and Upper Tottenham
Place, where there is overcrowding and much poverty, there have been 4
deaths to every 5 houses, and a death-rate of 33 per thousand. In Ashby Street,
where there is no sewer, and consequently the drainage is bad, the mortality has
been at the rate of 37 per thousand last year, and at an average rate of 44 in the
3 years. In the Gray's Inn sub-district, the following places exhibit very high
rates of mortality, and it might be expected that they would do so from their
conditions: Colonnade, Cromer Street, Poplar Place, Paradise Court, Melina
Place, Wilson Place, Chad's Place, James Street, and "Wellington Square. In
contrast with these high rates, varying from 31 to 75, we have at the Model
Buildings, Bagnigge Wells Road, only 14 in 1858, and at Pancras Square only
18 in 1858; in Guilford Street only 5 in 1858, and 11 as an average death-rate
of 3 years. Many other places might be mentioned, but these will suffice to show
that it is not mere theory to maintain that bad drainage, overcrowding, and filth,
are causes of death; in many instances rendering the mortality more than double
what it would be under more favourable conditions. Then it must not be forgotten,
that diseases originated and fostered in such places as those alluded to,
does not confine its ravages to them, but is spread by means of the atmosphere,
clothes, and in a variety of ways, to those who live in more wholesome
circumstances.
*A new sewer has now been put into this Court. April, 1859.