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of the Government authorities, which would determine in all eases the
maximum number of persons that should be permitted to oecupy
rooms, &c., while provision would be made for the periodical sanitary
cleansing, &c., of all such houses, which would have to be registered.
This question was before the Works, General Purposes, and Sanitary
Committee in 1866, and some progress was made in draughting regulations,
but it fell through, and has never since been revived.
Jennings' buildings have received the customary attention during the
year, both by way of inspection and sanitary work in the houses, and
also by frequent flushing and cleansing of the public ways, water
closets, &c. So crowded, dilapidated, and generally unsatisfactory a
locality must always have been a source of trouble and anxiety—and it
was not possible therefore to feel otherwise than glad when it was
announced during the current year that the property had changed hands
and was coming down. At the present time many of the houses are not
only vacated but also destroyed, and though the remaining dwellings do
not seem likely to be demolished so soon as was expected, there is reason
to believe that they will not continue very long to prevent the consummation
of a long wished for and important improvement.
The population of" Jennings' Buildings," at the taking of the census
in 1871, was 876. The deaths registered in 1872 were 29, (independently
of any that may have occurred in the Parish Infirmary),
equivalent to 33 per 1,000, or not far short of double the average in the
parish generally. Fifteen children died under 5 years of age, six
being under a year old; nine persons died at 60 years of age and
upwards, and five between the ages of 5 and 60. Two deaths were
attributed to measles, the only fatal zymotic disease, but ten were due
to tubercular diseases, which indicate an unhealthy state of the population,
whether inherited or acquired. Five inquests appear to have been
held ; in three cases upon children under one year who died of tubercular
diseases; in two cases upon adults who died of heart disease, all
the deaths being reported as " sudden."
Yeoman's Row is another of those localities which, from their crowded
and impoverished condition, necessarily require and receive much sanitary
attention. About the middle of the year an idea was abroad that
"fever " was prevalent there, but upon investigation there was discovered
no foundation for the rumour. Indeed, all things considered, the health
of the inhabitants of Yeoman's Row, judged from the mortality returns,
would appear to have been very good last year, although it would seem,
from the District Medical Officers' Relief Book, that a large proportion
of the people are constantly under his care. The deaths were only 17,
including two children, who died on the day of their birth, one in convulsions,
and one from premature birth. As the population numbered
at the 1871 Census 950 souls, it would appear that the mortality in
Yeoman's Row was below rather than above the average in the entire
parish. The unfavourable feature is the large proportion of deaths of
children, 11 of the 17 deaths having occurred under 5 years. Three
persons died at ages above 60, and one each at 18, 53 and 54. Nine of
the deaths were due to tubercular or scrofulous diseases.