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It thus appears that, in 1864, the mortality was highest; and in 1865 it
was highest but one. This result is not a very encouraging one in regard to
sanitary operations. Some parts of the parish are undoubtedly healthier than
they were ten years ago; and if nothing had been done to improve the drainage,
the paving and domestic accommodation, the parish would be incalculably more
unhealthy than it is. In comparison with most of our large towns, London,
during last year, had not a high mortality (24.62 per 1,000) and the mortality
of Saint Pancras was a little lower than that of the whole of London, and also
a little lower than that of the other northern districts of London, amongst
which it is placed.
Are we, therefore, to rest content? Is the mortality of Saint Pancras as
low as it might be? By no means. One cause of disease and death it is most
difficult to contend with, that is to say, poverty, with its attendant evils, overcrowding,
unhealthy dwellings, insufficient diet and clothing. Intemperance,
sexual excess, and want of cleanliness, mismanagement of children from
ignorance, or other causes, imprudent marriages, and general want of providence,
are other prolific causes of death, over which you, as guardians of the public
health, have directly but little control. These can only be checked by education,
moral, intellectual, and religious.
Other causes of disease are, to a greater or less extent, under your control,
such as drainage, the condition of water receptacles, noxious accumulations of
decaying organic matter, in cellars, yards, or public places, the sale of diseased
or putrid food, the spread of contagious disease for want of prompt isolation or
disinfection, and the neglect of vaccination.
Pauperism has increased in this parish, both absolutely and relatively to
the population. In May, 1856, there were 1,496 paupers in the Workhouse, and
210 at Lunatic Asylums, 3 children at Tring and 2 at Margate, making in all
1,711 receiving in-door relief, and 4,805 receiving out-door relief; these two
numbers give a total of 6,516 paupers. In May, 1866, there were 1,891
paupers in the "Workhouse; 363 at Lunatic Asylums; 346 children in the
country, making a total of 2,600 paupers receiving in-door relief, besides 5,459
out-door paupers: which gives a total of 8,059 paupers. In ten years the
number of paupers has increased in the proportion of 65 to 80, that is, about
at the rate of 23 per cent.
The gross estimated rental has increased between Lady-day, 1856, and
Michaelmas, 1865, from £941,760 to £1,159,628, an increase of 23 per cent.
The property of the parish, and the pauperism have increased in the same ratio.
In the same period the population has increased only at the rate of 19 per cent.
To the increase of pauperism, a part of the increased mortality may be
fairly ascribed.
Another cause has been in operation to a slight extent; that is, closer
packing of the population. At the census of 1851 there were 898 persons to
every hundred inhabited houses, whereas, in 1861 there were 907 persons to
every hundred houses in Saint Pancras. In 1851, there were between 61 and
62 persons living to each acre; in 1861 there were more than 73 on each acre.
The demolition of houses by Railway Companies, within the last few years,
has tended seriously to aggravate overcrowding in some parts. The extent to
which this has taken place, we shall have no data for estimating accurately until
the next general census.