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122
The General Health of the District.
Although the death rate as a whole is exceptionally
low, yet the gloomy cold weather of November, with the
irritating atmosphere inseparable from life in Cities in
which coal tires are used, has raised the fatality from
respiratory diseases to a figure far in excess of former years.
The deaths from bronchitis, pneumonia and similar chest
diseases average in a series of Novembers to about 3 7 per
thousand of the population but during this last November
the rate was 4 6 per thousand.
Consumption was also more fatal than in former
Novembers; the average rate is about 23. November,
1904 gave 2.5 per thousand.
As some compensation the fatality of the infectious
fevers has been low and the cases notified below the
average.
Appeal to the London County Council [Public Health
(London) Act Section 41 (3)].
The London County Council has made bye-laws with
respect to the construction of water closets and other
matters, which bye-laws it is the duty of each local sanitary
authority to enforce [Public Health (London) Act Sect. 39 (3)].
Should, however, any person feel himself aggrieved by
any notice or act of a sanitary authority in relation
to any water closet he may appeal to the County
Council whose decision shall be final.
The plans of important premises in Berners Street were
disapproved by the Public Health Committee because in
one of the back areas a water closet in the basement was
shown approached from an open space less than live feet
across.
The words of the bye-law are, that the water closet
must be approached directly " from an area or other open
space available for purposes of ventilation measuring at
least forty superficial feet in extent, and having a distance
across of not less than five feet and not covered in otherwise
than by a grating or railing."