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33
The following are the death-rates, corrected for sex and age distribution, for the
five years 1896-1900 inclusive, being the five years immediately preceding the
Representation :—
Deaths from all causes
The Area.
29.2
Hoi born.
24.0
London.
19.7
And for the last five years 1901-1905 inclusive :—
Deaths from all causes
The Area.
29.2
Holborn.
20.9
London.
17.2
The Zymotic death-rates for ten years 1896-1905 inclusive (from the seven
principal zymotic diseases as given by the Registrar-General) are as follows:—
I give the details for ten years because the number of deaths from zymotic
diseases in comparison with the deaths from all causes is small, and in dealing with
comparatively small populations, it is more satisfactory to take the average of as large
a number of vears as possible.
Deaths from Zymotic diseases
The Area.
4.95
Holborn.
1.98
London.
2.31
The Phthisis death-rates for the ten years were:—
Deaths from Phthisis
The Area.
2.08
Holborn.
2.95
London.
1.66
As last year was the first year in which the addresses of the mothers and other
details respecting births were supplied to me by the Registrar-General, I can only give
the infantile mortality for that year. One would expect the infantile mortality in the
area, apart from its being an insanitary area, to be very low, as the Italian mothers
almost invariably suckle their infants, and the infants do not sleep with the mothers
but in separate cots, so that there are no deaths from overlaying.
Since the representation was made the Council has sent several communications
to the London County Council urging that Council to proceed with the area but on the
10th November, 1903, the London County Council, in adopting a report of its
Housing of the Working Classes Committee, although admitting the accuracy of the
representations made by the Medical Officer of Health, and that prima facie the area
was one which should be dealt with by an improvement scheme under Part I. of the
Act, suggested that in consequence of its being the alleged intention of the freeholders
of the estate to themselves redevelop the property for commercial purposes, it was a
proper case to leave to the Home Secretary to decide whether he would order the
Local Authority to prepare and carry into effect a scheme either under Part I. or Part
II. of the Act of 1890.
In various communications to this Council, and on the 18th April, 1904, to the
Home Office, the freeholders of the greater part of the area stated that a small portion
of the area had been built upon and it was their intention to develop the remainder
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