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During the year one case of diphtheria was notified in Beckett
Street, but there were no other instances of infectious disease.
The total deaths for 1896 in Beckett Street (including those in outside
Institutions removed from Beckett Street) amounted to 12. Eight of
these were due to bronchitis, etc., and one to convulsions of infancy.
I am, Gentlemen, your obedient Servant,
FRANCIS STEVENS, Medical Officer.
January 4th, 1897.
The full report of the Sanitary Committee was presented
to the Vestry on March 10th, 1897, together with various
recommendations relating to increased attention to the removal
of street obstructions, and to the improvement of the paving,
lighting and cleansing of these streets. In addition to this, however,
the Committee recommended that I be instructed to forward
a copy of my report to the London County Council as the Local
Authority having power to deal with insanitary areas, and
secondly, that one of your present inspectors be told off to
assist Inspector Kerslake on that district. Neither of these
recommendations can I regard with favour. While admitting
the fact that in this area there are isolated blocks of houses
which it would be a great advantage to remove, I am strongly
of opinion that the district as a whole does not come within the
meaning of an insanitary area, and I do not feel myself to be in
a position to give the certificate required under the Housing of
the Working Classes Act. In the report to the Committee made
in April, 1896, I recommend that a routine inspection be made
twice a year. Now I am sure that any one who realises the
character and size of the district in point, will agree with me
that the only way to have this carried out properly is to have
an inspector appointed either to assist Inspector Kerslake, or
to relieve him of part of his district, which includes the area in
question, and which could not be undertaken as a sort of understudy
The Vestry, however, referred the whole matter back,
being apparently anxious to receive some more comprehensive
scheme for the improvement of this part of the Parish. The
Committee accordingly instructed me to make a further report,
which was considered by them on May 10th. I again considered
the propriety of making a representation under Part I.
of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, but was unable to
alter my views on the subject. In the inspection I made for
the purpose of this further report, I went into the advisability