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7
The total mortality in the two years, was 4415 in 1859 and 4234 in 1860.
So that the wet and cold autumn ssems to have been very favorable to the
health of St. Pancras, no doubt by flushing the roads, drains, and sewers, and by
preventing the escape of effluvia into the atmosphere from decomposing organic
matters. The flushing may be imitated by man, and the escape of effluvia may
to a great extent be counteracted by greater attention to cleanliness, the more
frequent removal of refuse, and better drainage.
The difference between a hot and cold season, appears to have been indicated
in St. Pancras by an addition of 200 deaths in one quarter. It is not for me to
say how much the mortality may be reduced, even in hot seasons, by improved
sanitary appliances; but there can be no question that very much remains to be
done which has hitherto been neglected.
SANITARY WORKS.
The following improvements have been carried out under the immediate
inspection of myself or the Sanitary inspectors:—
New drainage has been supplied to 234 houses.
To 666 drains, new traps have been applied.
The drainage of 123 houses has been improved.
288 cesspools have been emptied, filled in, and trapped water closets
substituted for them.
219 closets have been supplied with new pans, traps, and water supply.
45 new water closets have been erected.
37 new dust bins have been put up.
41 dust bins have been repaired.
The yards or cellars of 76 houses have been paved.
Water supply has been furnished to 24 houses.
93 houses have been cleansed and lime whited.
In 7 houses overcrowding has been abated.
41 lots of pigs have been removed.
30 cow sheds have been improved.
121 other nuisances of various kinds have been abated.
To effect these sanitary measures there have been issued 550 notices, of which
74 were final, and 476 preliminary.
In 51 cases these notices were ineffectual, and it was necessary to summon
the parties at fault before the Police Court.
The number of complaints entered on the books of this department was 545.
The Slaughter-houses, Cow-houses, and Mews have been periodically visited,
and frequent verbal warning has been given as to the observance of greater
cleanliness and more frequent removal of manure.
The sausage shops, tripe boiling, and fish frying shops have been regularly
visited, as well as the markets in Somers Town, High Street, Camden Town, and
the Hampstead Road.
There have been seized by the Sanitary inspectors, as unfit for human food,
three quarters of beef, 39 joints of meat, and 3 owt. of meat from butchers'
shops; 250 mackerel, 10 lots of soles, 191 red herrings, 3 barrels of herrings,
2 of periwinkles, 7 lots of plaice, 165 rabbits, 39 hams, and a large quantity of
rotten oranges, crabs, and lobsters.
Table VIII gives an account of the cases of sickness treated by the Parish
Surgeons. The number of cases is a little higher than in 1859; there were
more cases of Small Pox and of Measles, but fewer of Scarlet Fever, Low Fever,
Diarrhoea, and Hooping Cough.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS HILLIER.