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Scarlet fever and diphtheria mortality, which were not separated
in the earlier period, show a reduction of 33 per cent. The death rate
of 74.9 (for 1890-9), is made up as follows:— scarlet fever 20.1 per
100,000, and diphtheria 54.8 per 100,000. The increase in diphtheria
in the last 10 years, as compared with the two previous decennia, is the
least satisfactory feature in the vital statistics of London and its
parishes.
The comparatively small reduction in the death-rate from
diarrhœal diseases—diseases chiefly affecting infants under one year of
age—is a matter for comment, considering the 15 per cent. reduction in
the birth-rate, and the proportionally smaller number of infants to the
population at the present time than formerly existed.
To balance the saving of life from other causes, there is a set-off of
441 deaths from influenza in Chelsea in the last 10 years (death-rate
45.7 per 100,000), a cause of mortality which was apparently altogether
absent in 1856-65. The prevalence of influenza no doubt accounts for
the comparatively small reduction in mortality from respiratory
diseases. The 44 per cent. reduction in mortality from pulmonary
tuberculosis (phthisis) is a satisfactory feature of the returns.
SANITARY ADMINISTRATION IN THE EARLY DAYS
OF THE VESTRY.
In the early days of the Vestry, as the result of past neglect,
nuisances of all kinds abounded, and a very great deal of time was
occupied in securing their abatement. Between the 1st January, 1856,
and the 25th March, 1857, no fewer than 138 legal proceedings were
taken to compel compliance with the Vestry's notices, and 42 works
were executed by the Vestry in default of the owners. Proceedings
were taken under the Nuisances Removal Acts to obtain orders from
the magistrates for sanitary works considered necessary by the Vestry;
or the works considered necessary could be executed by the Vestry
under powers conferred by the Metropolis Local Management Acts, and
the costs recovered. The Police Magistrates of those days for the most
part adopted attitudes hostile to the Vestries. They appear to have
been but little convinced of the necessity for sanitary works at all, as is
shown by a Memorial presented by the Vestry to the Home Secretary
in 1866. In this Memorial is set out (1) the inability of the Vestry to
recover costs incurred for executing sanitary works on private property
under the Metropolis Local Management Acts, where the owners were
in default; (2) the decisions of a particular Police Magistrate, who
declined to make orders under the Nuisances Removal Acts, on the
ground that the Vestry could itself do the work under the Metropolis
Local Management Acts ; and who rejected the evidence of the Medical
Officer of Health and Inspector of Nuisances, in order to visit himself
the premises complained of, which invariably ended in the summons
being dismissed.