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36
BATTERSEA WEST.
In presenting the report for this Sub-district for the
past year, I have to observe that it has been characterised
by a considerable less number of deaths than the previous
one; and, what is still more gratifying, is the fact that
the decrease in the number of deaths is entirely amongst
those diseases over which sanitation is supposed to have
some control. I refer to those of a Zymotic origin. In
the first few months of 1877 the District continued to be
infected with the epidemic of Scarlet Fever of the previous
year, and gave us 8 deaths. On the mitigation of this
disease, following closely upon it, Small Pox made its
appearance, after an absence of five years; it was not
confined to one particidar part, but very general. In
many cases its type was of a severe kind. It is impossible
to tell the extent of the disease, as no means
exist for the registration or return of cases; but I feel
sure it was plentifully and widely distributed. But 13
deaths were registered; but these must not be taken as
all the persons belonging to this District who succumbed,
for 39 were removed to the Special Hospitals, and no
doubt some of them died.
When this disease became so widely spread over the
whole of the Metropolitan District, great difficulty and
delay was experienced in removing the patients, owing to
the Hospitals being full, and frequently we had to wait
for days before a vacancy occurred. I am quite aware the
Asylums Board did all they could to meet the pressure
put upon them; but, at the same time, so long as the