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

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Bethnal Green 1856

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green, Parish of St. Matthew ]

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8
the Green +406; in the Church +184; in the Town—69.
The Epidemic deaths too, in 1856, were least in the Town.
These differences, most probably, result from the differences
in the decennial per centage increase of their population
which I showed in my First Report to have been respectively
19.36, 40.49, 25.98, and 4.71. They accord with the law
of Dr. Farr, that "an increase of density implies an increase
of mortality."
4.—SANITARY TRANSACTIONS.
During the last 20 years, vast improvements have been
effected in Bethnal Green. The Highway, and many of the
By-way foot paths have been paved; levels, inclinations, and
drainage channels made; and the roads and streets put in repair.
To the protection afforded by those means, to the
houses and ground, much, probably of our health-improvement
is due. Since the Metropolis Management Act came
into force, you, Gentlemen, have nobly advanced "the great
work of the day." You have abolished the black ditch in
Lamb Fields, and made a pipe sewer instead—have arched
over 30 feet of open sewer behind Hackney Road—the cause
I believe of much local disease;—have constructed sewers in
several streets, in which Fever was, before, constantly rife;
—have connected hundreds of houses with neighbouring
sewers, and ordered their cesspools to be disused, and filled
up. You have, also, at a cost of nearly £5000, organized,
and commenced four grand Sewerage Blocks—life-saving
works which will testify hereafter, to your wisdom and zeal.
By these grand reforms you will enhance the salubrity of the
climate and air, and diminish, alike, the sick and death rolls!
Having, from time to time, reported many of the worst and
most ill-conditioned places, (copies of which are kept in my
Journal, and at your Town Hall) I have now grouped together
the several improvements, in the Retrospective Synopsis
appended to this Report.