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2
GENERAL
SUMMARY.
The year 1898 presents, I am happy to say, merely normal conditions.
The sanitary condition of my district continues
excellent; a low rate of mortality has been maintained;
as in 1896 and 1897 the statistics with regard to the
various notifiable and other diseases do not call for special comment,
except perhaps to note the great reduction in notification.
I cannot do better than repeat what I reported to you in my last
Annual Report.
"That an East End district should be so placed speaks volumes,
not only for the progress of sanitation, but also for the administration
of health laws, which in these days of congested population are of
such moment for the well-being of the whole community."
"Such a state of affairs appears to me, and will, I think, also commend
itself to you, as being highly satisfactory and encouraging. It
proves as I have before insisted that conscientious, persistent, and
intelligent sanitary administration must in time tell in the improvement
of the health of a district. The fruits of many years labour and
great expenditure are now ripening for gathering, and I feel sure that
when the ratepayers know these facts they will consider their money
has been well and wisely spent for the benefit of the community."
"But the efforts of administrators must not be relaxed; there is
still only too much ground to cover, still only too many bad conditions
to remove. Health problems will always confront us, as populations
increase, and areas become more densely inhabited. Having got a
community healthy, the object then will be to keep it healthy.
Disease must be regarded as a dweller on the threshold, ever waiting
the opportunity to make entry into the teeming life of our towns and
cities."
POPULATION.
The population of the parish of Bow for the year 1897 is estimated
to the middle of the year (as required by the Registrar
General) at 42,080, and the following table gives the
official census for the last 100 years
official census for the last 100 years:-