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not of great intensity, but of exceptionally large amount,
which, assuming the proportion of deaths borne to cases of
sickness amongst the poor as a measure of the same proportion
amongst all classes, would appear to have considerably
exceeded 90 per cent. of the population.
Sanitary Proceedings.—Table 6 in the Appendix contains
a summary of the principal sanitary proceedings
carried out during the year. These were all conducted,
(with one exception, in which a magisterial order was
obtained, to prohibit the recurrence of a nuisance injurious
to health), without the necessity of an appeal to the law.
In addition to which the slaughter-houses and cow-houses,
33 in number, were examined and certified as possessing
the necessary sanitary requirements previous to the renewal
of their owners' licenses. The bake-houses, 22 in number,
were also examined and specially reported on. The
proceeding adopted by the Board, of causing the rooms of
houses to be limewhited and otherwise purified, when so
needing it on account of uncleanliness associated with the
presence of contagious disease, was promptly carried out,
with due regard to the convalescence of the patients. The
arrest of contagion was very noticeable in several instances,
and in all, the employment of this simple and inexpensive
measure was doubtless attended with much sanitary
benefit. The Scavengering of the town has been better
conducted than hitherto; but it is as yet neither sufficiently
systematic, nor frequent, nor sufficiently directed—
where moat needed—to the courts and alleys, and the
poorer localities.
Water Supply.—The quantity of water supplied by the
Vauxhall and the Lambeth Companies has been somewhat
more abundant during the past year, compared with that
of 1867 ; but it is as yet totally insufficient for the purpose
of efficient drainage, as well as domestic use, for the prevention
of that great sanitary defect in the main drainage,
the necessity for the escape, through openings made for
the purpose, of the noxious gases generated by the decomposition
of the sewage in its passage through the sewers'
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