View report page

Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1870—71.
3
Parish of Saint George the Martur Southwork.
ANNUAL REPORT
MADE TO THE VESTRY
by the
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING LADY-DAY, 1871.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
It is now my duty to place before you the Annual Report of the sanitary and, as
far as comes within the sphere of ray duties, the social condition of the District which you
represent.
I venture to ask your special attention to this Report, because it sums up, to a certain
extent, the results of the duties and responsibilities which vestrymen undertook in 1856,
after the passing of the Metropolis Management Act. And as a great change in the
government of the Metropolis is now impending, the present seems an opportune time for
making a brief statement of what vestries have accomplished. The demand for this change
of Metropolitan Government made by many who possess no knowledge of what had to be |
done when vestries were established, nor of what has been done since through their
agency, has led to many prejudicial attacks upon them.
Of late the newspapers have been fully occupied in giving us foreign war news of no
light importance; meanwhile vestries have enjoyed the blessings of peace; otherwise it appears
that when exciting topics are scarce, the command goes forth," Attack the Vestries."
Whatever of imperfection cropped up in this "great and wide City; "whether the removal
of that imperfection fell within or without the compass of their duties mattered little, upon
hem fell the lash. They have been accused of ignorance, negligence, and selfishness. My
experience tells me, that often a far larger amount of ignorance has been manifested by the
???users than by the accused. It is quite probable, nay, it is quite true, that vestries
have laid themselves open to the blame of negligence and selfishness; but thus far, I have
???er yet met with any body of men whatsoever, who have not deserved the same blame;