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Much as we have cause to deplore, in common with almost every
other district within the Metropolitan area, and indeed throughout the
country, an excess of mortality from one or two severe diseases of the
zymotic class in 1858, it is not a little gratifying to find from the table
of Pauper Sickness, &c., inserted in the appendix, that of 318 deaths
registered in the entire Wandsworth district, as the result of 6 of the principal
epidemic maladies, viz., small-pox, measles, scarlet fever, hooping
cough, diarrhoea, and fever, not more than 41 of the deceased persons could
have belonged to the out-door pauper class of patients—a circumstance
from which it may be very fairly inferred that some good influences have
been at work, under the auspices of your Board, in improving the
sanitary condition of many of those localities that were formerly known
and very generally spoken of as the abiding places of all the more
severe and fatal forms of disease.
Although much sanitary work of a decided beneficial character has
been accomplished during the past year (see Table V., Appendix), there
are unquestionably still remaining to be carried out—in the poorer
neighbourhoods especially—many and very important improvements;
and it is hoped and believed that a just estimate of the statistics,
furnished with this and former reports, will lead to a very general
acquiescence in the opinion entertained by your Health Officers, viz.:
that as the end and aim of all the sanitation with the execution of
which local authorities have been recently charged by the legislature,
is to eradicate diseases, or to deprive them of their fatality; to
strengthen the healthy, and to assist the suffering, so must it be their
unceasing endeavour to carry their greatest reforms into and about the
dwelling-places of the indigent; for nothing can be less open to dispute
than that, in proportion as sickness and its consequences can be
diminished amongst the poor of this great nation, will prosperity accrue
to it, the best interests of the community at large be promoted, civilization
advanced, and the fullest harmony of corporeal existence amongst
all classes secured.
We have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your very obedient Servants,
THE MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH
of the wandsworth district.