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The great excess of sickness, above the average, has consisted
principally in the comparatively great prevalence of chest affections.
The weather, or rather the temperature of the month, will not account
for this, although it will account, in a great measure, for the high
fatality. Again I am compelled to recognize an unusual cause of vital
depression. Probably many of these cases were of the nature of
"influenza " (catarrhal fever).
I must repeat that I am very much dissatisfied with the irregular
manner in which the collection of dust and refuse is carried out.
It is necessary that the Vestry should really take some more decided
measures with regard to this matter, either by amending the
contracts, so as to make them more stringent, or by compelling
the contractors to exercise a better supervision over their labourers.
Many scandalous instances of neglect and refusal on the part of the
dustmen have come to my knowledge, and some of the members
of the Sanitary Committee have, at my request, visited a few of
the low neighbourhoods with me, so as to see the state of affairs
with their own eyes. Our own system of dust inspection, as hitherto
carried.out by the special officer appointed for that purpose, is nothing
better than a delusive pretence. I lay no particular blame on him on
this account, because he is quite unable, with his other avocations, to
inspect the dusting of the Parish as it ought to be inspected, and as it
must be, if we are to make a proper preparation for the coming
summer; and he has himself requested more than oncc to be relieved
from this duty. There are over 21,000 houses in this Parish, all of
which make dust and refuse, which in most cases should be removed
from the premises every week. I would ask any man of common
sense how the performance of this work can be supervised by one
officer properly, even if he had nothing else to do, in a Parish with an
extent of 3127 acres? The truth is that it is not done, and never will
be done, even tolerably, until a competent person is appointed, with
nothing else to do than this. During the past month I have directed
the Sanitary Inspectors to report to Mr. Stanwell, streets that they
have observed in their systematic inspection to be badly dusted; but to
lay the duty upon them of looking after the dustmen, would have the
effect of taking them from the performance of work, of a character
equally important, especially at the present time. I beg to assure the
Vestry that I have no wish to press upon them the multiplication of
officers. If I do so at any time, it is not without what I regard as
ample justification, and only in the discharge of a paramount duty to
the parishioners. Every addition to my staff has the effect of increasing
my own labours in a commensurate degree.