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in 1871, notwithstanding the excessive mortality from Small Pox, there were
only 295. In fact, in the first half of the term of ten years, there were 1713
deaths from those diseases; in the last half of the term (including the period
of the heaviest mortality recently known from Small Pox and Scarlet Fever)
only 1359 deaths, being a clear saving of 354 human lives in five years, and a
prevention of 10,000 cases of sickness sufficiently severe to require medical
aid. Is it unreasonable or premature to attribute this remarkable improvemant
to the gradually increasing strictness of our sanitary inspection? It
seems only just to come to this conclusion, after an experience of five years.
If it be not possible, at present at any rate, to extinguish the germs of organic
poisons, we can at least modify their virulence when they spring into activity.
49. "With reference to other diseases in the Table, we remark a more
regular mortality. The deaths from Phthisis have, indeed, been decreasing
during the past three years in a slight degree; but the deaths from Bronchitis
are not perceptibly reduced. Pneumonia gathered many victims during
the first three years of the series; since then it has maintained a tolerably
steady mortality. About 14 per cent., or one death in every seven, in St.
Giles District, is due to Phthisis; and about 16 per cent., or one death in
every six, due to Bronchitis. Pneumonia causes one death in every seventeen.
Together, these diseases cause 36 per cent, of the total mortality.
Public Institutions in St. Giles District.
50. Those institutions that have a bearing upon the health of the
community, and assist more or less directly the sanitary administration, are
the "Workhouse, the Bloomsbury Dispensary, the British Lying-in Charity,
and the Infants' Home. The first two are almost exclusively confined to
relieving poor parishioners, and each supplements the other in so complete a
manner, as to justify the opinion that, in this respect, the District is amply
provided. The British Lying-in Charity gives additional help to our poor,
about 20 women in a year, belonging to this District, receiving aid from its
resources. The Infants' Home has less claim upon our favorable consideration.
Admitting that the good done by this institution may outweigh its
disadvantages, St. Giles scarcely participates in it; whilst, on the contrary,
as I have shown this year (§ 106) it adds unduly to our mortality.
The Public Baths and Washhouses.—50a. In referring to the public
institutions of St. Giles, an important place should be given to the Public
Baths and "Washhouses, which are a valuable means of promoting habits of
cleanliness and good management among the working classes. The practice,
which is still common in the District, of washing at home in a single room,
which serves at the same time for living room, kitchen, and bed room, is
fraught with evils, as it leads to dirt, disorder, and slovenliness; destroys
all the possible comforts of home; drives the husband into the streets; and,
in the case of sickness, as often happens, wraps the sufferer in a damp steamy
atmosphere, which is very injurious in many diseases. The Baths and "Washhouses
in this District have been most successful, so far as the use of them
is concerned, and have been highly appreciated by the poor. If they have
not yet repaid the capital expended upon them, nor are likely to do it, that
is simply owing to the conditions under which they were established by Act
of Parliament. They have had, however, the good effect of teaching a
better class of persons the value of a personal bath; and at the present time
many persons have baths erected at home for private use, who, when the
Public Baths were established, resorted to them for their periodical ablution.
The Charity Organization Committee.—51. Within a few years a new
Society has been founded, and has established a branch in this District, the
chief object of which is to limit and regulate charitable relief, and to
repress mendicity. As its experience has grown, its operations have
enlarged, and it now conducts inquiries into all the more important