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Kensal Town mortality, whilst the deaths under 5 years of age in the
home district formed only 33∙1 per cent, of the total home district
mortality.
On the whole, it may be concluded that the average standard of
public health in Kensal Town is superior to that of the home district,
for the general death-rate is lower, and there is a smaller prevalence of,
and mortality from, preventable zymotic disease. It is true that there
is a larger infantile mortality in Kensal Town than in the home
district, but this is accompanied by a higher birth-rate in the former
district. There can be no question that the natural increase of population
in Kensal Town by excess of births over deaths is very much
greater in Kensal Town than in the home district. According to the
census of 1891, the population of Kensal Town formed 22∙63 per cent.
of the population of all Chelsea. The natural increase in the 5 years
that have elapsed since the census is 2,745, which would give a
population in April, 1896, of 24,532, forming 24∙3 per cent, of the
population of the entire parish. The estimated population for April,
1896, which assumes that the rate of increase between 1881 and 1891
has remained constant up to the present time, is even higher, being
26,215 or 26 per cent, of the population of the entire parish. It is
probable that the census shortly to be taken will disclose a figure for
Kensal Town somewhere between the two estimates above given.
THE WATER SUPPLY OF CHELSEA.
The quality of the water supplied to Chelsea in 1895 was up to
the average standard. The examinations of the Official Analyst
for the Local Government Board show that about 98∙7 per cent, of the
bacteria present in the unfiltered Thames water at Hampton are
removed by the processes of subsidence and filtration carried out by the
Chelsea Water Works. The largest number of microbes present in a
cubic centimetre of the Chelsea water was 232 (in February), and the
smallest number 4 (in October), the average for the year being 56,
which falls below Professor Koch's dictum that portable water should
not contain more than 100 microbes per cubic centimetre.
Constant Supply.—The percentage of house supplies on the
constant system in the Chelsea Company's district was 73 at the end of
the year 1895, as against 63 at the end of the year 1894. The whole
of the parish (home district) should now be receiving a constant supply
of water.
SPECIAL REPORTS.
During the past year I have had the honour to present special
reports on the under-mentioned subjects for the consideration of the
Yestry:—
January 22nd.—Receptacles for dung at 225 and 257, Pavilion-road.
February 5th.— Eemoval of fish offal: the frost and frozen waterpipes:
Cadogan Lodge, Pavilion-road: Public
Health (London) Act, section 60, sub-section 4
(thelprovision of shelters): Metropolitan Asylums
Board ambulance service.