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The locality most affected was that of St. John's, and owing to
the crowded condition of that Ward, the mortality, as is seen, was
exceptionally high. The Jewish Schools being situated in St. John's
Ward and receiving pupils from all parts of London, it was thought
advisable to close them for a short time. I am distinctly of opinion
that, during this severe epidemic, had the complaint been a notifiable
one, we should have been in a better position to render more effective
assistance than we did, apart altogether from hospital accommodation
for the infected sick.
Little Mount Street.— On February 11th, 1895, I made the
following report to the Public Health and Sanitary Committee:
"I have inspected the houses, Nos. 1 to 10, in Little Mount Street,
and whilst admitting that the Inspectors have done all in their
power to render them habitable, I am of opinion that the houses
are simply worn out and beyond repairing. I think also that it is
useless to proceed against them under 'The Public Health Act,' and
advocate the course of representing them to the Vestry under ' The
Housing of the Working Classes Act.' The representation would
be as follows: I have to represent that houses Nos. 1 to 10 Little
Mount Street, Walworth Road, are in a state so dangerous or injurious
to health as to be unfit for human habitation; and that
opinion has been formed on the following grounds: (1) The houses
are structurally worn out, the walls are cracked, the joints of the
brickwork are perished, especially in the back walls, and there is
no damp course; (2) The ground floor of each room is damp, and
in Nos. 1 to 4 it is below the level of the adjoining pavement;
(3) In Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 there is not sufficient light and
ventilation; (4) In Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 the back yards are too
small. I advise the Vestry to authorise proceedings to be taken
for the closing of these houses." On February 20th the Vestry
directed proceedings to be taken, The usual 28 days' notice was
then served. During that period the owner took in hand house
No. 1, in order to show that it could be repaired and made habitable.
A damp course was put in, and the ground floor was covered
with 6 inches of concrete and re-floored with wood, the roof and
gutters were repaired and new sanitary appliances were put in, the