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30/a
To the Vestry St. George the Martor, Southwark.
November 17 th, 1850.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
It is now my duty and pleasure to present the Report for the Michaelmas quarter. It consists almost entirely
of Tables ; these, if constructed with rigid accuracy, must prove in the future extremely valuable, as helps to understand
our local condition, diseases, and causes of disease. Such information concerning what is going on at our very doors must
at least set us thinking in the right direction. To know the cause is said to be half the cure; and again, To prevent is
better than to cure:—two proverbs especially applicable to sanitary improvement, when carried on upon rational principles,
and by steadily and well-conducted operations.
When I tell you that the last epidemic of Cholera at Newcastle cost the town in medicines and burials £3,800,
and will cost further for the support of widows and orphans, £50 per week for eight years; and when we learn that gross
defects, easily preventible, principally gave rise to that dreadful inroad, we shall of course be but too glad to learn any
means, to gather knowledge any way, haply to prevent the like here.
The first Table shows the mortality of the Michaelmas quarter compared with the same quarter of other years,
and with the other quarter of the same year.
The second Table shows the mortality of the respective districts of the Parish, distinguishing the deaths from
zymotic, that is, preventible disease, and especially, the amount of our liability to diarrhoea, and by consequence, to Cholera.
It also shows the relative total mortality, the mortality from zymotic disease and from diarrhoea in this, as compared
with four other Parishes.
The third Table gives the weekly particulars of deaths; distinguishing those from chest diseases, from zymotic
diseases, and diarrhoea; the averages of past years; the weekly mean of Barometic readings; the highest and lowest readings
of the Thermometer; the Dewpoint and the amount of moisture in the atmosphere; it gives the prevailing winds
and the amount of rain fall. The meteorological observations were taken at Thomas's Hospital, therefore sufficiently
suitable for reports concerning this parish. For these particulars I am indebted to the report of that most able and practical
sanitary officer, Dr. Thomson.
The fourth Table gives the mortality of the Parish in particulars of districts, diseases, ages, and sexe3 ; it also
gives the births.
The fifth gives the amount of illness among the out-door poor. It appears, taking the number of cases actually
attended each week, that during the quarter,
811 cases of illness, of which 374 were new cases, were attended in the Kent Road District,
983 cases of illness, of which 494 were new cases, were attended in the London Road District,
992 cases of illness, of which 402 were new cases, were attended in the Borough Road District,
making in all the out-door districts, 2,786 cases, of which 1,270 were new. Of these new cases. 120 were from chest
complaints, and 464 of the epidemic class. In the corresponding quarter, 1855, there were 1,632 new cases of illness
attended by the poor law surgeons, showing a decrease on this quarter of nearly 400 cases; not only a decrease of suffering
among the poor, but also a most important item of decrease in Parish expenditure.
The sixth will be found a most instructive table as to the workhouse. The character of the complaints and infirmities
of the inmates, and their ages, are shown in it. The average number of inmates is now 414 against 347 in the
corresponding quarter 1850. Taking all the cases week by week during the quarter under treatment, an average of 153
is shown to be constantly under medical supervision. Of course as the sick wards of the workhouse are resorted to as an
infirmary, the same individuals are restated week by week. Only 124 new cases Were admitted. Forty-two deaths
occurred during the quarter. In my half-yearly report, I adverted to circumstances which, pressing expensively upon a
poor parish, necessarily impede sanitary improvement. It appears that during the last half year no less than 5,812
stragglers, or casual poor were relieved, I suppose, with bed and breakfast, for a very small and insufficient value
returned in work. These people are very likely to bring disease, as well as expence to the locality they favor. They
seem to have an undue partiality for us. Bermondsey appears to have entertained only 1,054 in the same time, and Newington,
I believe, equally few. I find by the Inspector's book, and from other sources, that 146 inspections have been
made, involving about 500 visits to 225 separate houses or places. In 114 the defects have been remedied, the rest, with
few exceptions, are in progress. In almost every case where illness has led me to house inspection, I have found the yards
either unpaved or very badly paved, the water butts rotten or filthy and without covers, the cesspools foul, and the drains
defective. I have at times called your attention to the very bad and unhealthy state of the more obscure roads of the parish;
I cannot but think that there should be as little delay as possible in putting them into a more satisfactory condition.