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39
tenanted, acquired in 1849 an unenviable celebrity, it having been
the first place in Rotherhithe in which the cholera made its appearance,
five out of six of the inmates having died from that disease.
Everything is in the same state as it was then, no improvement
whatever has been since effected.
The house, 370, Rotherhithe Wall, is a shop occupied only during
the day, it has neither drainage, ashpit, privy, nor water supply.
The houses 371, 372 and 373, have no back yard. The cesspools
are in the cellar, so that each house is literally built over a cesspool,
and the cellar being unventilated a considerable portion of the
gases evolved must necessarily ascend into the upper part of the
dwelling. At JNo. 372, the only water supply is from a pump connected
with a tidal well. The kitchens of all these dwellings are
on the first floor ; in each kitchen there is a sink connected with an
iron pipe outside of the house, consequently all the refuse liquid is
discharged into the open street (Cross Alley), to the great annoyance
of the inhabitants of the place, who complain bitterly of
stenches arising therefrom.
At 3, Baltic Place, there is an overflowing cesspool.
Notices have been served in all these cases respectively.
Mortality of the Month.
The absolute number of deaths registered in Rotherhithe during
the just elapsed month, was thirty-two; a number considerably below
the average monthly mortality. The only remarkable fact is the
almost entire absence of fatal cases of epidemic disease. There having
been no death from scarlatina, none from typhus, none from smallpox,
and only one from measles, complicated with an inflammatory
affection of the respiratory organs. At this moment (31st December,
1856) I consider the parish healthy.
During the quarter ending 31st December, 1856, there died in
Rotherhithe one hundred and three persons, viz., fifty-eight males,
and forty-five females, and there were born one hundred and
eighty-five children, viz., one hundred and five males and eighty
females. Yours respectfully,
January, 1857. W. MURDOCH.
THIRTEENTH REPORT.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe.
Gentlemen,
In rendering an account of the minor nuisances examined by me
during the past month, I shall be brief, to avoid the repetition of
details given in similar cases in former reports.
At N o. 36, Paradise Street, there were a full cesspool and imperfect
drain.
At Devonshire Villas, Deptford Lower Road, the main drain had
become choked up.