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hospital of patients afflicted with contagious disease, the establishment of
district hospitals, post mortem houses, and mortuaries. In compliance with
this Act, your Board has built a disinfecting chamber. A Mortuary has
also been provided by favor of the Rector of Bloomsbury.
In this year, the District was visited by Epidemic Cholera, and much
additional duty and responsibility ensued.
59. In 1867, an attempt was made to carry out a system of "House
Registration," in conformity with the "Sanitary Act of 1866," but much
resistance was offered, and the Regulations were recalled, it being understood
that they should be applied thenceforward only to special cases. Since then,
on a hearing before the Magistrates, legal objections were discovered, which
have practically made the Regulations inexpedient.
The Workshop Regulation Act passed this year.
60. In 1868, The Artizans' and Labourers' Dwellings Act was carried
through the Legislature, by Mr. Torrens. This is likely to prove a most
useful measure. It enables Local Boards to require the amendment or demolition
of houses certified by the Medical Officer of Health to be unfit for
human habitation.
This year, a decision by Mr. Vaughan", granting a conviction on a
summons by your Board, against an occupier of an underground room, has
strengthened the hands of the Board in dealing with this evil.
61. In 1869, there was no special legislation. This was the first year
of my duties. The epidemic of Relapsing Eever began.
62. In 1870, the Disinfecting Chamber was erected. Regulations for
the better management of Rag and Bone Shops were issued. Houses in
Abbey Place condemned. Relapsing Eever prevailed extensively, and largely
increased the duties of the Inspectors.
63. In 1871, the epidemic of Small Pox occurred. Church Lane, with
its adjacent courts, and Coram Place and Russell Place, certified to be unfit
for human habitation, and the two latter demolished. Princes Court certified
to be uninhabitable, and it, together with Barley Court, pulled down by the
intervention of the District Surveyor. The Eactory and Workshop Act
amended. The Yaccination Act amended. The Metropolis Water Act
passed, the main object of which is to provide for a constant supply. Nearly
two years have elapsed, and nothing effectual has been done in this District.
This barren result is owing to the absence from the Act of any stringent
provisions, making it obligatory on the Metropolitan Board and the Companies
to carry it out. I pointed out this defect in the Act in my Report to
you, soon after it had passed the Legislature, and it is not improbable that
an amended Act will be necessary. At the same time, the expense of the
fittings required is a prohibition upon the application of the Act to poor
districts.
64. In 1872, the Legislature passed a new "Public Health Act," having
for its object the organization of a sanitary system in the provinces;
also "An Act for Regulating the Sale of Intoxicating Liquors," and
containing clauses for the prevention of adulteration; the execution of
which does not rest with the District Boards. Also "An Act for the prevention
of Adulteration of Eood, Drink and Drugs," one of its chief purposes
being to secure the appointment of Analysts, having competent medical,
chemical, and microscopical knowledge. Dr. Redwood, the well-known Pharmaceutical
Chemist, has been appointed for this District.
65. This Act is capable of being made most valuable in the detection
of the causes of disease; and it is to be hoped that this use of it will not be
lost sight of. Many diseases arise from the food or drink taken: the special
causes of some of these are already well known; but the direct causes of
others remain in obscurity. Scurvy, gout, enteric fever, trichiniasis, variou