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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH.
TO THE VESTRY OF THE PARISH OF
KENSINGTON.
June, 1867.
Gentlemen,
Since the date of my last Report, on account of the great amount
of work entailed upon your Sanitary Department, you have thought it wise
in lieu of one Sanitary Inspector and one Inspector of Obstructions,' Dust
Complaints, &c., to sub-divide the Parish into three districts, viz.; North,
Central, and South, with one Sanitary Inspector for each district, for all
purposes, and I trust by reference to the table of the amount of work done
that you will be perfectly satisfied that the change has worked most
satisfactory.
In presenting this brief record of works done, permit me to call
your attention to the fact that, in addition to the ordinary duties of
inspecting Nuisances, and periodically visiting the abodes of the poor,
it has now become necessary to periodically examine all the Slaughterhouses,
Cow-sheds, and Bakers' premises in which bread is baked. With
regard to that part of "the Sanitary Act, 1866," relating to the regulation
of houses let, or occupied in lodgings, your Vestry has not at present
thought fit to adopt it.
I may add here that the Gas supplied to your Parish has been
occasionally examined during the past year, and found of average quality,
i. e., above the standard required by the Act of Parliament.
The total mortality which has taken place during this term, viz.,
from January to December, 1866, has been 1966, being an increase of 233
over the previous year, and of 117 over 1864. I consider this satisfactory,
as our population increases with such immense rapidity. The deaths are
distributed thus:—
Males. Females. Total.
Brompton Ward 265 250 515
Kensington & Notting Hill 712 739 1451
Total 977 989 1966
The number of deaths which have occurred under 6 years of age was 799, or 40.6
per cent, of the total number of deaths.
Of this number of deaths 114 occurred in the Hospital for Consumption,
nearly all not Inhabitants of the Parish.