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Union poor of this Sub-district, needs only to be glanced at
to obtain strong evidence of the fact that has just been
alluded to, viz., that sanitation is still doing much to lessen
the death-rate amongst the labouring classes. During
the year 1866 the Medical Relief Book of this District
of the Union contained a record of 1.0 deaths of 388 cases
treated. During the past year, it appears by the same
record that 14 deaths only of 421 cases treated, occurred
amongst the out-door poor belonging to this parish.
It hardly admits of a doubt, then, that we are beginning
to reap no slight advantages from efficient sewerage, and
other sanitary measures carried out and sustained in
neighbourhoods inhabited by the indigent classes. Could
overcrowding in such localities be more effectually prevented
than it is at present, there is much reason to believe that
even this low death-rate might, in a short time, be still
further reduced.
Summary of Sanitary proceedings during the year.—
Although it may seem scarcely necessary to offer a single
comment on that portion of the general table, (No. VI.,
Appendix,) which exhibits so perspicuously the amount
and character of the sanitary work accomplished in this
Sub-district during 1867, it may not be out of place to
make a passing remark upon the almost incredible extent
of main and branch drainage that has been constructed
within the past 8 or 9 years, with such great advantage
to the parish. Putting together the figures annually
furnished by the Surveyor, from no further back than
1860, it appears that no less than 59,422 feet of new
sewers and drains of various dimensions are in full operation
within the parish at the present time. There were, it is
believed, a considerable number of feet of new drainage
executed before the year 1860, but since then it is calculated
that an amount of this necessary and valuable work
has been completed equal in extent to rather more than 11¼
miles ! Nothing, it is believed, could be more satisfactory
than the manner in which the extensive works referred to,
have been throughout executed by the several contractors
engaged. Down to the present time the utmost diligence,
compatible with good workmanship and stability of