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usually slight, compared with that of corresponding seasons. A verification
of this statement will be found in the return from my own subdistrict
(Putney), in which it is recorded, that out 150 cases of sickness
of greater or less severity, attended by me in my capacity of District
Medical Officer, the death of but one person (a female 87 years of age)
was registered during the quarter just expired.
Sanitary Improvements—Removal of Nuisances, &c.
As the Medical Officers of Health will shortly present their report for
the past year (1856), and will therein have an opportunity of offering
their suggestions, and of pointing out to the Board what has been done,
what they propose should be done, and what they conceive has been
left undone in their respective sub-districts, there will be but little need
for me to attempt any very detailed analysis of such local sanitary
operations as are intended to be dealt with by the individual Officers
under whose cognisance they have especially fallen. But it will be as
well to give in this section of the report, a brief summary of the most
important of the suggestions contained in the fortnightly returns of my
colleagues, as they apply to investigations and inspections made during
the quarter, the sanitary operations of which it is part of my duty to
review.
Local Returns.
CLAPHAM. The fortnightly returns from this sub-district, speak
generally of the favourable state of the public health throughout the
quarter. (The prevailing zymotic and other diseases in each of the seven
sub-districts, can be best ascertained from the tables in the appendix,
consequently there will no need to repeat them in this summary.)
Mr. Mc. Donogh in several of his reports, repeats a recommendation
to take advantage of favourable weather to complete certain sanitary
operations which had previously been reported on, and he especially
alludes to the condition of certain ponds in his sub-district, and to the
want of drainage in many of the poor localities.
WANDSWORTH. Mr. Nicholas makes many allusions to the unsatisfactory
condition of the poorer class of houses in his sub-district.
The inspections have been many and the evils disclosed such as appeared
to require immediate attention. The main requirements of the houses
examined, were a supply of good water, better ventilation, the more
general adoption of covered dust-bins, the construction of decent wate r