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consented to its seizure and destruction under the surveillance of your
inspector, after some consideration I considered that in this instance
this was an advisable course, inasmuch as the same proceeding had been
sanctioned by the Vestry on a former occasion with good result. I
trust and believe that this discovery will prove an excellent and salutary
warning.
The mortality of the parish for the week ending Februrary 5th was
25, the corrected average within a fraction of 33. There were 5 in St.
Mary Magdalen, 9 in the Leather Market, and 11 in St. James district.
For the week ending the 10th inst. there is an increase, the deaths
being 29, the corrected average being a fraction under that number:—
there were 3 in the Leather Market, 8 in St. Mary Magdalen, and 18 in
St. James district. A fatal case of Typhus Fever occurred in the Blue
Anchor Road. I look with considerable anxiety to this locality, and at
the risk of being charged with repetition, I again draw the attention
of the Vestry to the urgent necessity for promptly draining this daily
increasing populous district.
I am, Gentlemen, your obedient servant,
JOHN CHALLICE,
Officer of Health.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
March 7th, 1859.
Gentlemen,—My attention has been directed to the sanitary state
of Meridian Place, in consequence of a communication from the Board
of Guardians to the effect "that a case of Fever had occurred at No.
10, and that the houses were in a bad condition." On the 3rd instant
I visited the place, accompanied by your inspector, and was agreeably
surprised to find that a very great improvement had taken place since
my last inspection; the yards have been paved, closets panned, sink
stones trapped, and the water supply is good; the only complaint made
by the inhabitants now is an occasional stench from the untrapped
gulley in the centre of the court, which I advise to be trapped forthwith.
By a reference to the journal of the District Medical Officer it
is satisfactory to find that Fever has not spread to other houses in the
court, which in all propability it would have done, had not great sanitary
improvements been carried out.
The condition of Matilda Place is altogether bad, the houses are filthy,
the privies dilapidated, offensive, disgusting, and unhealthy. It is
necessary for the health of the inmates that immediate steps should be
taken to remedy the existing evils. The paving of each of these courts
is in a defective condition, not creditable to our which stands
so prominent in this respect in almost the whole of the district.
The site of Bethesda Chapel remains in the same condition; it is
dangerous to the health of the district in consequence of the exposure of
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