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11
and disposal of refuse costs somewhat less than £ 150,000 per annum.
Dr. Lord was not afraid to be outspoken and he mentions those
"who impede progress by a timid countenance" and "some, scrupulously
bent on saving the Parish rates, complain, with a sad inconsistency,
that open sewers and sullage pits in fields are allowed to remain" and says
in one Report that "there has been in the Hampstead authorities a want
of vigour in enforcing pains and penalties against those who recklessly
break laws framed for the promotion of the public health".
In the Report written in 1869 Dr. Lord says "We may congratulate
the Vestry that an ambulance, for the removal of the sick, has been
obtained for the use of the parish" but at the bottom of the page there is
a footnote - "Since writing the above I have learned, with regret, that
the ambulance after all is not even begun".
Throughout his long term of office Dr. Lord's main concern was
to improve the living conditions of what was then described as "the
labouring classes". He wanted decent houses with good water and
proper drainage. He was very ably assisted by the Surveyors of the
period, John Douglas and Charles H. Lowe, and by the time of his
retirement in 1879 the emphasis was more on the control of the infectious
diseases which took such a heavy toll of life at that period.
There were, however, many causes which he ardently supported,
such as compulsory vaccination, notification of infectious diseases and
the promotion of cremation in favour of ordinary burial , and there can
be no doubt that he had a good deal of influence in the public health
legislation of the day. In his last report he puts forward a strong plea
for the provision of public conveniences for women.
The reports of the time usually gave some indication of the
weather conditions and after our experience of the winter of 1962-63
it is perhaps not inappropriate to quote from the first Report of
Dr. Gwynn who succeeded Dr. Lord. "The unusual spring season of
1879, characterised by low temperature and abundant rain, was
followed by a summer wet and sunless. The autumn followed dull
and cold, but drier, wintry and severe weather setting in early in
November and continuing throughout December; a lower temperature
being marked for that month than for any December in this century".