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and in 1854 a serious epidemic of that disease broke out.
Camberwell suffered on both occasions, but more especially on
the latter, and the deaths due to that cause alone, swelled
the mortality of the former year, and gave a terrible magnitude
to that of the latter year.
In order to complete the comparisons I have instituted,
I have calculated the death rates, both for the year 1851 and
for the year 1852, of several of the neighbouring parishes,
namely, Lambeth, Bermondsey, St. George's Southwark,
Newington, Rotherhithe, and Wandsworth; and I find that in
1852 the death rate of Camberwell was more favorable than
that of either of these parishes, and that in 1851, while the
mortality of Botherhithe and Wandsworth was proportionately
less than that of Camberwell, the mortality of the other parishes
was as before proportionately greater. (Table VII.)
I think then, Gentlemen, that it may fairly be taken for
granted, from the concurrent testimony of all the calculations
and comparisons which I have laid, somewhat tediously I fear,
before you, that the death rate of Camberwell is naturally not
high ; and further, that Camberwell is in ordinary years, one
of the healthiest parishes in the metropolis. Nevertheless it is
one of the favorite strongholds of cholera, and the reason of
this I will ere long endeavour to explain.
Comparison of death rate of sub-districts of Camberwell.—
Camberwell is not only one of the most rapidly increasing
parishes as regards population, but it is one of the most
extensive, the only parishes which are larger than it, being
Lewisham, Wandsworth, Kensington, and Greenwich. And
as a consequence, partly of its great extent and partly of its
eccentric position, in density of population and in other matters
which exert an influence over its sanitary condition, it presents
greater varieties than are found between separate parishes in
the more central districts, and therefore affords opportunities
for studying the hygienic peculiarities of different localities,
and the influence which these peculiarities exert upon health,
which ought not to be neglected. The area of Camberwell is
4342 statute acres, and these are distributed among the four
sub-districts into which it is divided, in the following
proportions:—Dulwich comprises 1423, Camberwell 1339,
Peckham 1146, and St. George 434. At the last census, Dulwich,
which is the largest of the sub-districts, contained only