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District during the year; but on investigation I find them attributable to
severe Diarrhoea, or Summer Cholera, and not to the epidemic form of
that dreadful disease.
The great decrease of Deaths from Zymotic diseases must be satisfactory
to all, but especially so to those who have the sanitary supervision
of the Parish; for with a population of One hundred and fifteen
thousand, chiefly composed of the poorer classes, and in many cases
densely crowded, Fever and other contagious diseases are likely to arise
and spread unless their existence is early discovered, and such sanitary
measures taken as may be necessary to prevent their extension.
During the last few months there has been a system adopted of
making me acquainted, through the Relieving Officers, with any cases of
Fever, Small Pox, &c., among the pauper population. If this information
is given early it will prove invaluable.
The population of Bethnal Green Btill continues to increase, without
a corresponding addition in house room; in fact, there has been a decrease
of accommodation, in consequence of the shutting up of a number of
houses required by the Great Eastern Railway for one of their new lines.
This intensifies that which has always been our greatest evil —overcrowding.
What can be done to prevent it I know not, except to pull
down the small and unhealthy homes, and to erect upon their sites larger
and more commodious dwellings. How to provide homes for the working
classes at a rental which will not press too heavily upon them is a
matter for serious and earnest consideration, not only to the Vestry, but
to every one who has the well-being of his fellow-creatures at heart.
The average Deaths for the whole of London in 1864 were 26.45
per 1000, or 1 person died of every 37.9 living. For Bethnal Green they
were 27 per 1000, or 1 person died of every 37 living, 1 death in 4.2 being
from Zymotic disease. In 1865 the average for the whole of London was
24.5 per 1000, or 1 person died of every 40.7 living. For Bethnal Green
they were 24 per 1000, or 1 person died of 41.5 living, 1 death in 4.5
being from Zymotic disease. This refutes the statement so generally
made, that our death-rate is always higher than that of other Districts,