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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health. 11
Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING LADY.DAY, 1862.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
The Census of England has been taken since I had the honour of presenting you
with my last report: I am consequently enabled to place before you with accuracy, the
death rate of this district—the standard by which its sanatory condition must be measured.
I find that the death rate I gave you in the report for 1860.1 was less than the
actual fact, the increase of the population not having reached the proportion usually
allowed. This in a great degree may be accounted for by our position. Our district very
much resembles a walled town, only instead of being girdled by walls, it is hemmed in by the
surrounding parishes; hence we cannot extend our borders ; but if we increase in numbers,
we must grow in height, or become still more overcrowded. Altogether it is highly
unfavourable to the preservation and renewal of health, being situated upon an alluvial soil,
with a line of hills on the one hand, and a river on the other : precisely the circumstances
which give rise to a variety of fevers; besides aiding the developement and propagation of
every kind of epidemic disease. We cannot alter our position; but we may make strenuous,
and in the end successful endeavours to improve it. One great hindrance to the fulfilment
of this object is the defects of the present Building.act. A house may be built anywhere,
and almost anyhow, provided "all the rooms can be lighted and ventilated from a
street or alley adjoining." The object of the Builder is to save as much ground, materials,
and expense, as possible. The result is not difficult to foresee. Our forefathers, whose
recklessness as regarded cleanliness and the means of securing health was astounding,
nevertheless gained a glimpse into the evils arising from the crowding of buildings together,
and took means to prevent it; but of so extreme a kind, as to hinder the law from
being put in force. In the year 1656, an act was passed, in which certain, fines and penalties
were directed to be levied on all new houses which had not four acres of land with them
and Commissioners were appointed to see this statute carried out. The reason given
for the making of this law was the excessive number of houses erected together, which
were "found to be very mischievous and inconvenient; and a great annoyance and inconvenience
to the commonwealth." If this proposal was a step of an extreme kind, yet correct
in a good direction, we have taken similar steps in another and worse direction. There are
many gradations between a yard of four acres, and no yard at all. The examination of the
dwellings in which our labouring classes are compelled to live, is very discouraging; and
the more so when we witness, as we still do, the erection of new ones which will carry into
the future, the evils we are now striving to put an end to. Thus is hope cut off; and
poverty, sickness, and misery, have free course to drag on, unchecked, their retributive
punishment.