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The other infectious diseases,—measles, whooping-cough, scarlet
fever, and diphtheria, also shew a high incidence and death-rate
in this ward, though the excess is much less than in the case of
diarrhoea. In the past five years the death-rate from tuberculosis
was 2·25 in the North River Ward, compared with 1·46 in the
Borough. The age distribution and the class of population do
not account for these high death-rates. The inhabitants are of a
poor working-class, but not poorer than is found in several wards.
After considering all possible conditions which are unfavourable
to health, the only one that seemed likely to explain the unhealthiness
of North Woolwich is the character of the soil and condition
of the ground-water, which may be compared with that of a mudbank.
Such conditions are notoriously inimical to health, and
known to be associated with a high diarrhoea death-rate.
A special inspection was made of 171 houses to discover defects
of drainage and dampness of walls and sites, the drains being
tested with the smoke-test. The drains of 29 houses were defective
and have been, or are being, relaid. 21 houses were found to be
damp and measures taken for securing dryness; at 15 ventilation
was provided under the floors.
Out of 28 houses where cases of diarrhœa occurred 17 were
said to have been built within the last 10 years, 9 had sites without
concrete, and 4 were damp; none shewed any signs of houserefuse
under the floors.
I have to thank the Borough Engineer for the following
information obtained from the District Engineer for the North
Woolwich London County Council sewers as to the level of the
ground water:—"Observations were taken at a sump-hole
excavated at the pumping-station, during a period of 24 hours.
The greatest variation was 0·67 feet, or about 8 inches, which
occurred from two to four hours after high water, and the lowest