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your approval, to prepare a few rules ; the observing of which will no doubt tend to
promote the health and comfort of those for whom such instruction is intended.
It gives me much pleasure in being able to state, that out of the 479 complaints
entered in the complaint book during the last quarter, only ten summonses have been
taken out against landlords for neglecting, or refusing to comply with, the orders of
your Inspectors. It is frequently found that the friendly suggestions of the Medical
Officer of Health, following upon the first or second notice of the Inspectors, has more
effect, and a greater amount of work is done by such means, than by applying to the
Magistrates for compulsory powers.
The Whitechapel District, which formerly, by its mortuary returns, was shown
to be the most unhealthy locality in London, has rate of mortality at the present
time, very little above that of the entire metropolis, which for the year 1857, was
2.2 per cent, or 22 in 1000, the rate of mortality for the Whitechapel District being
2.4 per cent, or 24 in 1000. This is not the only gratifying result to those who are
interested in the progress of sanitary improvement in this large and important manufacturing
district; but the fever cases among the poor have also materially diminished,
the average number of these cases per week attended by the Medical Officers of
the Union for the last quarter, was 15, whereas for the corresponding period of
last year, the average number was 25.
Some of the most prominent causes of ill health in Towns and Cities, are now
thoroughly understood by the community at large; such as the breathing of impure
air, more especially when the impurity arises from overcrowding, and from animal
refuse ; and public attention is consequently energetically given to remove such
obvious sources of ill health.
These well-directed efforts will verily have their reward in diminishing the
amount of sickness, in refining the taste, improving the moral condition of the people,
and engendering habits of self-respect among a class of persons, hitherto much
neglected ; but the science of Preventive Medicine is now making rapid strides, is
beginning to be taught in the numerous Schools of Medicine ; and it will be found,
as this science advances, that there are many more causes in operation among a
community, producing ill health and premature death, over which we have controul,
than those which I have just enumerated.
I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
15, Great Alie Street. JOHN LIDDLE.
1st Mat, 1858