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15
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
dead ; and the vaults beneath the churches, have been either emptied, or so arranged, that
no longer is the health of the worshippers above endangered. Ey this step alone two of the
chief agents which minister to life are no longer contaminated—the air we breathe, and the
water we drink. We complain now of the want of water, but how much more serious was
this want some few years back ; then it was only given every third day, and for a very short
period; besides, being most impure. Numbers of houses, I might say streets, had no supply
whatever, nor attempt at supply ; and, indeed, a supply of water would onlyjhave
added to the nuisances abounding, as there were neither drains nor sewers. Water was
obtained with difficulty, and the difficulty of getting rid of it was as great. Cleanliness
under such circumstances could not be maintained. Look at the paving and surface
cleansiug of our streets. They are more frequently swept; and the mud heaps not allowed
as formerly to remain for weeks, aye months, often indeed, until they were re-scattered by
the wind, or washed away by the rain ; whilst Guernsey granite has superseded flint for
our roads, and the broad smooth flag stone, the rough gravel for our foot paths. A few of
the chief streets only were watered, and those very imperfectly, and for a few months of
the year. Now all the streets and roads are watered, and whenever needed. In this short
and imperfect review is there not cause and reasonable ground for at any rate some little
satisfaction ? Why should the good done be ignored because more remains to be done, and
the goal is not yet reached ? As for myself, however, I feel disposed to treat with considerable
forbearance the general impatience which has been lately manifested at the apparently slow
progress of sanitary labour. The causes which gave rise to this public dissatisfaction and
clamour need not here be enquired into; indeed to most of you they are known: yet, if
there has been exhibited on the part of the public a grave want of judgment in not duly
considering all the untoward circumstances in which Yestries have hitherto been placed,
has there not been manifested also a strong desire to get rid of the evils which the practice
of sanitary science has discovered, and the removal of which the health of the people
urgently demand ? But, it will suffice for you, when the sanitary works now in operation
shall have reached a far higher and more complete condition, that in them you fulfilled
your part, and at a time when they were little understood, and their application
untried.
In the year ending 31st of March, 1866, the births of 2189 children (1096 boys and
1093 girls), were registered; and 1482 deaths (716 boys and 766 girls). The excess of
births over deaths was 707; an excess greater than has been experienced during the last
seven years. In these seven years the death rate reached its lowest ebb in 1860—1, when
the mortality was 1239; and its highest flow in 1863—4, when the deaths were 1369,
making a difference of 450; and giving an annual rate of mortality for the latter year of
30 in 1000 persons living. The annual rate of mortality for the year now ended is 26.' in
1000 persons living.
I place before you, as I have done for the last three years, a Table, in which the
weekly number of deaths is given in each sub-district, with the mean temperature as
determined by Mr. Glashier, at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.