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ought to be adopted by every householder to avoid diarrhœa,
cholera, and infectious diseases generally. The constant observance
of these precautions would enable the inhabitants
to avoid many other diseases which are not included in the
term "infectious."
September 17th, 1883.
During the 5 weeks that ended on the 8th day of September
the number of births registered in the Parish was 313, and the
number of deaths was 129. The annual birth rate was 36.9,
and the annual rate of mortality 15.2 per 1000 of the estimated
population. The death rate in London was 17.5 per 1000.
Of the deaths which occurred in Bermondsey, 40 were
children under one year, and 12 were persons of upwards of
60 years of age.
The principal diseases of the zymotic class caused 40
deaths, viz:- measles 8, scarlet fever 15, diphtheria 3, whooping
cough 1, enteric fever 2, and diarrhœa 11. The deaths
from diphtheria occurred in the St. James's district. I am
very doubtful about one of the deaths which was registered
as "enteric fever," being due to that disease.
Upwards of 11,000 copies of Sanitary Precautions have been
distributed from house to house throughout the parish, and
300 large sheets have been posted in courts, and factories, as
well as on the walls. The immediate result was that a plentiful
crop of nuisances was brought under my notice, all of
which were promptly attended to. I have inspected houses
in Long Lone, Queen's Gardens, Snowsfields, Crucifix Lane,
Bermondsey Street, Riley Street, Paulin Street, Nelson
Street, Alscot Road, Willow Street, Alderminster Road,
Lynton Road, Drummond Road, Lucey Road, and Marine
Street. The nuisances comprised dirty houses, stopped
drains, defective water supply, overcrowding, and accumulations
of manure.
Complaint has been made of a nuisance at Channel Row,
which arises from burning shavings, &c., from old anchovy
casks.
At No. 72, Long Lane, an undertaker's shop, the police
found 11 bodies of infants, of which 10 were stillborn. They