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attendance, and where now their valuable services are scarcely ever
required.
I mention this matter especially as I am anxious to bear my testimony
to the great and general improvement of House Property in our
Parish, occupied by the working classes, in consequence of its being
stated, as regards other Districts, "That the Health Officers find their
efforts frustrated by the extensive owners of property." My general
experience has been the reverse of this, almost without exception.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN CHALLICE.
I may state that I view the condition of the site of Bethesda Chapel
with considerable alarm, in its relation to public health.
The structure has been pulled down by police authority, and human
remains are unprotected and exposed to atmospheric influence, except
by the flooring of the chapel; a condition of things fraught with
imminent danger to the neighbourhood.
I am most anxious that some decided steps should be taken, so that
this evil, which is likely to prove a source of disease, may without
further delay be remedied.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY,
January 3rd, 1859.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —In the return of the Registrargeneral
for the week ending December 18th it is stated that the
mortality of London is still high, the deaths being 1531; whereas the
corrected average would be 1301, thus shewing an excess of mortality
of 230 persons. Diseases of the respiratory organs still producing a great
proportion of the deaths, no less than 441 being registered from these
causes alone. We have not contributed to this excess in the mortality
table, our deaths in the week were 21, the corrected average being
25; they are rather unequally distributed, two only having occurred
in the Leather Market district, one being accidental, the other from
Consumption. In St Mary Magdalen there were 4 deaths, 3 from chest
affections and one from Paralysis, there being no fatal cases of Zymotic
disease in either of these localities.
The deaths in St. James's were 15, 3 arose from Scarlatina and two
from Whooping-cough. The births in the parish were 42.
For the following week, terminating December 25th, a great improvement
in the health of the Metropolis is remarkable, as compared with
the preceding. The deaths having fallen to 1240, which is 16 below the
average. Our mortality was but 18, the average being within a fraction
of 28. They are thus distributed: sin Saint James's (two from
19