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Report of the Medical Officer of Health, for the fourth Quarter, 1857. 3
circumstances being equal, we have gained in population 158 during the quarter, that being the excess
of births over deaths. 170 died under ten years of age—that is, half the total deaths;—the diseases I
need not farther specify, they are all recorded. I have been curious to note the number of very aged
persons who died in this quarter: there were 22 from 70 to 80; eight from 80 to 90; three at 93; and
two at 94 years of age. Twenty-nine of these were, so far as I can gather, of the poorer or hard
working class, so that hard work and a certain amount of privation, are more favourable to a long life
than the being in so-called "easy circumstances." 1 append the analyses of the waters supplied
by the Companies to this Parish.
November.
Total Impurity. Organic Impurity.
Lambeth Company 21.56 1.48
Southwark Company 22.66 1.56
December.
Lambeth Company 20.84 56
Southwark Company 20.72 1.24
The seventh Table shews the amount of Sanitary work under hand during the quarter.
There are considerable arrears, partly, no doubt, because of unavoidable difficulties, and the reluctance
of parties to do the required work; partly because we are very properly slow to coerce, and prefer to
call again and again ; giving, indeed, more than sufficient time. The reluctance arises, no doubt, from a
belief in the minds of some persons that, with enough delay and obstruction, they may escape the work
altogether. This, of course, brings a very large amount of work upon us, and occasionally goes far to
embarrass us. As to burial vaults, noticed in this Table, and which have been reported as without
improvement from the first: one is in good condition, one requires very slight improvement, but the third,
namely, the parish church, requires a speedy and complete alteration. The addresses of places where
the work is unfinished, are appended, as usual.
(Signed) "WILLIAM BENDLE.
• Dr. Thomson.