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REPORT
on the sanitary condition of the several parishes
included in the wands worth district, for the
quarter ending march 28th, 1857.
To the Board of Works for the Wandsworth District.
Gentlemen,
In presenting this, the first Quarterly Report for 1857, the primary
duty I have to perform on behalf of my colleagues is a very pleasurable
one—that of congratulating the Board upon a greatly decreased rate of
mortality in the district, during the past 13 weeks, compared with that
of corresponding seasons.
By a reference to the new and comprehensive series of tables furnished
in the appendix to this report, it will be seen, that in the
Quarter which ended on Saturday 28th March of the present year, the
deaths of 284 persons were registered in the district. The average
number of deaths of the corresponding quarters of the ten previous
years, viz: from 1847 to 1856 inclusive, was 320, and if this number
is raised in the usual manner in proportion to the increase of population,
it becomes 352. The number of deaths therefore, recorded in the quarter
just expired was less by 68 than would have been registered had the
average rate of mortality still prevailed.
Gratifying as it is to be enabled to place before the Board results
such as the above, it would be nevertheless presumption to contend
that the whole of this great saving of life was exclusively attributable
to the recommendations that have emanated from my colleagues
and myself; but seeing that a very manifest improvement in the
sanitary aspect of those portions of the District, hitherto considered the
worst conducted, and the most unhealthy, has been accomplished, it
may, I think, be very fairly assumed that some few of these 68 lives
have been in reality saved through improved and judiciously enforced
sanitary regulations