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The continuous rain had, however, a beneficial effect in cleansing the
air, the streets, and the sewers, although in some low-lying districts it
led to flooding of basements of houses, and the water supplied by certain
of the Water Companies was of an inferior quality.
The year was further characterised by an unusually even temperature,
without any periods of really warm or cold weather. The death-rates
of the Country generally, and of London, were exceptionally low. The
London death-rate, which averaged 18.5 in the ten preceding years, and
was 18.6, 17.1, and 17.2 in 1900, 1901 and 1902, was only 15.2 in 1903 ;
that means that there were 14,821 fewer deaths in 1903 than would
have occurred had the average been maintained.
In the City of Westminster the death-rate was also low, being 13.5
per 1,000, the average of the ten years 1893-1902 having been
17.2. For 1901 and 1902 the rates were 16.1 and 16.0 per 1,000. As
one death per thousand of population means 180 deaths in the City, the
reduction means a saving of 666 lives.
Infectious diseases generally were less prevalent, but in the City
whooping cough and measles were not apparently reduced. Certain
causes of death were quite unaffected, they form a suggestive group—
drink, suicides and accidents.
Bakehouses, restaurants, kitchens and other places where food
is prepared have received special attention during 1903. A Subcommittee
of the Public Health Committee drew up a schedule of
minimum requirements which they should expect to find in underground
bakehouses, and they visited every such bakehouse in the City
and settled what should be done. The bakers carried out the works
required with good feeling, recognising the justness thereof. In
several instances bakehouses which could not reasonably be adapted
were closed by mutual consent, and in the great majority of cases more
extensive improvements were made than the Committee demanded.
In reporting to the Public Health Committee on proposed alterations
in by-laws, I drew attention to the need for a daily collection of dust,
and they agreed that once a week was too seldom. I also pointed out
that the method of daily collection left much to be desired, and was
susceptible of great improvement.
The method I have suggested for some years as being likely to be
most satisfactory has been lately adopted in some American cities. It
is, that instead of emptying dust-bins into carts, the dust man should
remove the refuse in its bin, and leave a clean bin behind. The
full bins are emptied at the depot and properly cleansed. With
motor traction suitable conveyance could be devised without much
difficulty.
Subsequently considerable correspondence on the subject has taken