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overcrowded; but any room in a house may be overcrowded to the
serious detriment of its occupants, without the power of interference;
and this occurs iu every parish in London except the City of London,
where the existence of an old Sewer Act enables the Medical Officer to
require all such places to be registered as common lodging-houses, and
the number of its inmates to be recorded.
How, I may ask, when such practices exist, is it possible to stay
the ravages of infectious diseases? But if the inquiry is extended, it
will be found that other circumstances materially tend to prevent sanitary
improvement.
In the majority of houses I have inspected among the lower classes,
there is a total absence of any efficient means of ventilation; the windows
generally only opening from the bottom, such a draught is occasioned
that the occupants prefer breathing the tainted and vitiated atmosphere
to the chances of catching cold.
In my former Report I suggested the adoption of Arnott's ventilators;
but as this is probably found to be expensive, let me impress upon
the owners of property the necessity of allowing the windows to open
from the top, and perforating the upper panels of the doors, so that an
entrance and exit may be afforded for a somewhat purer atmosphere,
which would tend very greatly to prevent the spread of disease.
The poverty of the majority of the lower orders of society compels
them to work hard for their living; and, unless the requirements for the
maintenance of health can be afforded them without their being compelled
to seek them, I fear little can be done to curtail the death average.
In the generality of instauces, the rooms are dirty, small, and badly
ventilated; in many, the water is insufficient in quantity, and so inconveniently
placed as to be beyond their immediate control; and in a large
number the closet accommodation is utterly insufficient: thus, as may
be naturally expected, Death finds easy victims in filthy habits, overcrowded
rooms, impure air, and insufficient and ineffective water supply.
In consequence of the prevalence of disease in the neighbourhood of
the Vauxhall Road, my attention has been specially directed to an examination
of houses in that locality, but I fail to detect anything, either
iu reference to the premises or their drainage, that would enable me to
explain why that portion of the Parishes should be more unhealthy thau
any other.
I have previously reported on the continued offensive odour from
the termination of the Scholars' Fond sewer, which is the outlet for the
drainage from acres of houses; and I cannot but repeat my conviction,
that the unhealthy state is mainly owing to this offensive source. I yet
hope an appeal to the proper authorities will cause this crying evil to be
abated.
In examining the following Table of Deaths, it will be seen that a
very large proportion occur under five years of age,—namely, 728 as
against 1,559; and if those above seventy were added, it would amount
to 890, which thus leaves only 669, or rather less than 1 per cent. as