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19
verminous satisfactory. At the time of our visit there were on the island some
150 or so Italian immigrants who were being held, I believe, on account of some
passport irregularity. They all appeared exceedingly unhappy, and on inquiry I
learned that they had been on the island, which is less than half a mile in length,
for over two months. They are well fed, but I did not find the sleeping accommodation
or the sanitary arrangements particularly adequate or satisfactory. It must
be admitted, however, that the problem of what to do with persons detained is a
very difficult one, and it must not be forgotten that they as guests are unwilling
and the United States as hosts are equally unwilling.
One very interesting morning was spent in studying the American method of
freeing ships from rats, using a form of prussic acid gas for the purpose. As this
is not a matter likely to be of great interest to you I will not describe it.
In New York itself I have not had an opportunity to do more than visit one
of the Isolation Hospitals and see some of the work done in the Laboratory Division
of the city. All the various vaccines, including that against smallpox, are made
by this department, and I was interested to see something of the methods employed
and to hear of the work being done in an attempt to immunize children against
diphtheria. Some experiments in this connection which are now being carried out
may, if successful, be exceedingly useful in modifying the methods now in vogue.
Another place I have visited is the National Health Council offices at which
the various voluntary agencies concerned in public health work are housed. Since
in London an attempt is being made to concentrate all agencies concerned with
child welfare in one building also, I was interested to see exactly what was being
done on these lines here.
Before we sail on the 12th December I hope to visit other places of public
health interest here and possibly at Philadelphia, and if I find anything that appears
worthy of note, I will write to you again. It had been my intention to visit Chicago,
but, unfortunately, certain appointments have been made for us that will necessitate
our remaining in or near New York, and I have had to abandon the idea.
THE YEAR 1923.
POPULATION.
The population of the Borough when the Census was taken on June 19th, 1921,
was found to be 104,173, made up of 63,166 females and 41,007 males, the former
thus exceeding the latter by 22,159.
The previous Census taken in 1911 enumerated the population at 118,211, so
that during the period of ten years there was a decrease of 14,038.
The population estimated to the middle of 1923 by the Registrar-General is
shewn below, and is that used in calculating the various rates, etc., given in this report.
For information the estimated population of each of the wards is also set out, and for
comparison the figures for 1922.
Year. The Borough. All Souls. St. Mary. Christ Church. St. John.
1922 105,200 25,202 26,943 32,747 20,308
1923 105,400 25,258 26,992 32,806 20,344
SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Water.
Complaints as to water supply, either as regards quantity or quality, were few.
In accordance with the requirements of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
Section 49 (1), the Metropolitan Water Board reported that the water had been cut
off in ten premises. The reasons for discontinuing the supply were: waste of
water, three ; non-payment of rate, seven.