London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1883

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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22
tion which, it has already been stated, is to be found in the
general death-rate of this district. The death-rates are,
nevertheless, sufficiently high to indicate that the residents
have suffered much more heavily than in the more healthy
areas. Thus in Prospect Terrace, the death-rate for 1888
was 27.1 per 1000 in Wellington square, 82.6; in
Colonnade, 80.0 ; in Drapers place, 28.9. Compared with
these should be observed the death-ate of a model lodging
house, Derby Buildings, which is 15.7.
These figures show clearly enough the relation which exists
between conditions of unhealthiness and death and disease,
and are a strong reason for the Vestry to recognize the
powers which they possess as a Sanitary Authority over the
welfare of the inhabitants of this parish, and for still further
efforts to be made to preserve life and health.
More has been done during the year 1883, than in previous
years by the Vestry with this object, but more still remains
to be done.
In connection with this point I would beg again to urge
upon the Vestry the advantage of exercising the power which
Section 35 of the Sanitary Act of 1866 confers upon them of
controlling more efficiently under regulations, those tene.
mented houses which are occupied by the very poor. I would
beg to remind the Vestry that until proper regulations are made
and enforced in St. Pancras for this class of houses, the Vestry
have not exercised to their full extent the powers they possess
for improving the condition of their poorer parishioners, and
that the moral and physical welfare of those who are least
able to help themselves, is a question which concerns the
Vestry as much, if not more, than any other it is their duty
to consider. The Local Government Board have now declared
this Section in force in St. Pancras, and have called upon
the Vestry to make the necessary regulations.
During 1883 I reported to the Vestry, under the Artizans'
and Labourers' Dwellings Act, as unfit for human habitation,
all the houses in Cooper's buildings, seventeen houses in
Colonnade, one in Dutton street, five in Melina place, and
all the houses in Catel place, as well as six houses in North
terrace.
The need for the demolition of many of these houses and
the improvement of others have been recognised by the
Vestry, who have made orders for this purpose. It will be a
source of much satisfaction to me when these orders are