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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1805—6. 23
The above table points out the streets in which deaths from the principal zymotio diseases,
and also those from dentition and convulsions have occurred. 11 deaths from these causes
are referred to Tower Street, 10 to Lansdowne Place, 9 to Herbert's Buildings, 8 to Lant
Street, 8 to Webber Row, 7 to London Road, 7 to Southward Bridge Road, and 6 to Green
Street. The most wretched place as regards its sanitary condition and the state of the occupants
amongst the above, is that called Herbert's Buildings, and there the proportion of deaths
has been largest. As a general rule this will be found to be the case. Given, a poverty
stricken, neglected, squalid locality, there you will have the greatest prevalence of disease,
and the highest mortality. Now, however, and in right good earnest, the building of suitable
habitations for the lower class of the community is being discussed, and will I hope
soon pass into active operation. Heretofore, more attention has been given to erecting and
endowing Hospitals for the cure of the sick, rather than in endeavouring to prevent sickness
by destroying the miserable dwellings in which it was bred and fostered. The very
foundation of our sanitary structure depends upon the right housing of the poor; and the
only attempt thus far to bring about this result has been to patch up and repair the pre-
See page 26.