View report page

26
cleansing of the streets and thoroughfares, carried out in the
parish, there has been a very large reduction in the mortality. In
a population of 7071, according to the census of 1851, the number
of deaths has fallen from 166 in the year 1857, to 135 in the year
1858, showing an improvement at the rate of 4 per 1000 of the
inhabitants.
Again, on turning to Table No. 12, it will be perceived that
there has been a very great falling off in the number of births
throughout the whole District. In the Parish of Greenwich 160
less births have been registered during the past year than in the
year 1857; St. Paul, Deptford, will show 161 less than during the
previous year; and the Parish of St. Nicholas a diminution of 91;
making the total number of births in the whole District to be less
by 412.
It is a source of considerable regret to me to have to report thus
unfavourably, not only as regards the deaths but also as regards
the births that have been registered during the year.
From the foregoing figures it would appear that, after three
years' toil in working out the orders of the Board, the state of the
District is now even in a worse condition than previous to your
being armed with the authority you now possess. There is
however this question to be asked, "What would have been the
rate of mortality during this year of Epidemic Disease, had not
numerous sanitary measures and improvements been carried out,
and had the different parishes been allowed to continue, in many
respects, in the same foul condition that existed before your attention was directed to their amelioration?" There is also this consolation
to fall back upon, that this District has not deteriorated, in
a sanitary point of view, more than, I believe I am correct in
stating, all the other Districts around the Metropolis.
The Minute-books of your Board, and the books of your officers,
will be sufficient to satisfy the rate-payers that much good has
been done, and that much and deserved attention has been paid by
the Board to the sanitary requirements of the neighbourhood.
Still much more is required to be done. Sanitary science is yet
in its infancy. Your Officers anxiously await the orders of the
Board to carry out the principal and more important works