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should be suckled, which will always cause an undue mortality in a working
community, but as this agency is constantly at work, we must look
elsewhere for the cause of the absolute increase. The deaths from Diarrhoea
however were equally too numerous through out the metropolis, the
number being greater than in any preceding year, excepting the Cholerayears,
1849 and 1854, and the year 1857, when Cholera prevailed in
the continent, but did not affect us. Hence this great mortality from
Diarrhoea may probably be attributed to the existence of a Choleraic
constitution of the air, if the term may be allowed.
The deaths from Typhus have increased to a small extent in this
District, but it has prevailed epidemically in the metropolis generally.
49 patients were sent to the Fever Hospital in the year, of whom 9
died ; 9 of these were sent from Eagle Place, and 5 from Smith's Place,
both localities well known to the Vestry as being overcrowded and
occupied by those who pay but little attention to personal cleanliness,
and the ordinary rules of healthy living.
The deaths from Consumptive diseases increased from 248 to
283 ; and those from Pulmonary affections from 262 to 347; this increase
makes up a great portion of the total increase of mortality. It must bo
attributed to the very severe cold which prevailed during the early weeks
of the year especially, in which the exposed thermometer fell as low as
6° & 7° F. And it may be remarked that in the second week of the year,
65 deaths were registered, including 26 of persons over 60 years of age,
the average weekly number of deaths being about 30.
Bakehouses. Towards the end of October the Bakehouses of
the District were inspected by the Sanitary Committee and myself, to
ascertain that the provisions of the "Act for the regulation of the
Bakehouses" were properly carried out. The requirements of this act
are briefly :
1. That no person under the age of 18 be employed in a
Bakehouse between the hours of 9 o'clock at night and 5 in the morning.
2. That the inside walls and ceiling of every Bakehouse, and the
passages and staircase leading thereto, be either painted or lime-washed,
or partly painted and partly lime-washed; the paint to be renewed once
in 7 years, and washed with hot soap and water at least once in every 6
months, and the lime-washing to be renewed once at least every 6 months.
3. That every Bakehouse be kept clean and provided with means
of proper ventilation, and be free from the effluvia of any drain, privy,
or other nuisance.
4. That no place on the same level as the Bakehouse and forming
part of the same building be used as a sleeping-place, unless it be
effectually separated from the Bakehouse by a partition extending from
the floor to the ceiling, and unless there be an external glazed window
of at least 9 superficial feet area; of which at least 4½ feet are made to
open for ventilation.
The number of Bakehouses was 77, 38 being situate in the
upper 3 wards, and 39 in the 2 lower.