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I have to bring under your notice, another subject which demands attention,
viz:— the overcrowded state of some of the private infant schools in certain poor
neighbourhoods in the district.
Perhaps there is no single influence to which a human being is exposed more
prejudicial to his health, than overcrowding in rooms, the air of which cannot be perpetually
and rapidly changed. I have recently visited three of these schools, two in
Charlotte Street, and one in Goulston Street. The dimensions of the room at No.
18, Charlotte Street, in which were 15 persons, viz:— 14 children and the mistress,
were 8ft. in height, 7ft. in width, and 10ft. in length; thus allowng 37 cubic feet
only of space to each individual. At No. 17, Charlotte Street, matters were still
worse, for a space of 20 cubic feet only was allowed to each. In this room, situated
underground, about 7ft. high, 10ft. wide, and 10ft. long, were 36 persons, 35 children
and the mistress. The cubic contents of the room at No. 2, Goulston Street,
were 672ft., in which I found 31 children and the mistress. In all these cases the
mistresses were remonstrated with; the danger arising from such excessive overcrowding
pointed out to them ; and an intimation, in each case, was given, that such a
state of things would not be permitted to continue. The Inspectors have had
directions to visit these schools occasionally, in order to see that my remonstrances
are attended to.
As the cholera appears to be giving us some threatenings of its approach, two
cases of death having recently occurred in this district from that disease, and
several other cases in West Ham and Poplar, I have caused to be specially inspected
those localities in the district which were stated by Dr. John Sutherland in his
report to the General of Health in 1852, to be the principal seats of this disease;
and in every instance where sanitary improvements were required, and which were
practicable to be carried out, notices have been served upon the landlords, who, for the
most part, have readily complied with the orders, and the necessary works have been
executed. Not merely have the localities been visited by myself and your Inspectors
of Nuisances, but the houses therein have been systematically visited, that is, a system
of house-to-house visitation has been instituted, and improvements in the drainage,
cleanliness, water supply, &c., have taken place in nearly all those places mentioned
by Dr. Sutherland; but as many of the streets are still unprovided with sewers,
improved drainage in those cases could not be effected. Under these circumstances,
the landlords have been directed to empty the cesspools, limewash and repair the
houses ; and where the houses were found to be overcrowded, orders were given to
reduce the number of inmates.
In consequence of a case of cholera having recently terminated fatally in Fisher's
Alley, Spitalfields, a house-to-house visitation was immediately instituted in that
locality. The houses and cellars have been cleansed and limewhited, and are now
undergoing an efficient system of drainage. Hairbrain Court, formerly the seat of
extensive ravages of cholera, is now well paved and drained, and the old houses on
the north side have been pulled down, and improved new buildings erected in th«ir
stead.