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population during the past year, inasmuch as a large number
of the inhabitants is annually flowing into different parts of
these towns from London and other localities, which renders
it impossible to arrive at a correct conclusion.
For further information and more particular details, I beg
to refer you to the Tables above alluded to.
Having presented you the annexed Tables, and having
directed your attention to the increased mortality of this
District during the past year, and the apparent causes of that
mortality, it will no doubt be expected that I should offer
some strong remarks thereon. In many of my Reports
during the last and former years, I have so pointedly referred
to the apparent causes of disease, and so repeatedly directed
your attention to the remedies most conducive towards the
improvement of the condition of the District, that if I were
now again to enter into those details I should be only laying
before you an epitome of what has been already elaborately
described. I shall therefore confine myself to a few observations
respecting the Drainage of this District.
I have in many of my former Reports, in alluding to the
causation of disease and particularly to those causes whereby
diseases, at first simple in themselves, have, by direct atmos
pheric or effluvial influence, been rendered malignant and
even fatal (causes which could be really and sensibly prevented),
directed your attention more especially to such
specific influences as arise from want of drainage throughout
the greater part of the District.
On those several occasions it has been decided by your
Board that it was not expedient to commence any system of
drainage until the Metropolitan Board had perfected their
scheme for intercepting the sewage of the Metropolis. That
decision, as shown at a late meeting of your Board, now no
longer prevails, and it has afforded me much satisfaction to
find that some steps have at length been taken towards the
removal of the chief and principal causes of the heavy mortality
in the District; and, in alluding to the Resolution of
your Board for appointing a Committee to enter into arrangements
for obtaining and preparing plans and laying down a