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8
their influence, and have in consequence suffered more or less in their health; vomiting
and diarrhoea have attacked those animals which have been compelled to inhale the
emanations of cesspools.
Having mentioned these facts, it is my duty, as the local Medical Officer of
Health, to point out to the Board the importance of removing, as expeditiously as
possible, and in the least offensive manner, the contents of all cesspools in our densely
populated district; and for the accomplishment of this purpose I most earnestly advise,
that where a cesspool exists within 100 feet of a sewer, that such cesspool be
filled up, the drains be properly trapped, and made to communicate with the sewer.
The old method of emptying a cesspool, by carrying the contents in buckets through
the house, and depositing the filth in a cart, to be conveyed through the streets, is
exceedingly objectionable, and under certain conditions of the atmosphere, is likely to be
productive of a serious injury to the public health; besides, it is impossible to get rid of
the smell of a cesspool by emptying it in this manner; a sufficient quantity of the filth will
always remain, to produce the same pernicious and offensive odour. No cesspool
ought to be allowed to exist in London, for wherever there is a cesspool, the ground in
its vicinity is completely saturated with the foul and putrifying liquid contents ; the
stench from which is continually rising up and infecting the air which is breathed by
the people, and in some instances, poisoning the water which is drawn from the public
pumps. I would, moreover, ask if it be decent or proper to allow human beings to
live in the midst of their own ordure, when such a state of things is instinctively avoided
by the lower animals.
In my former reports I pointed out how the health of this district had been improved,
and I have now to refer you to the table of the cases of sickness, which have been
attended, during the last quarter, by the medical officers of the Union, where it appears
that the average number of cases of fever per week, have been ten only, whereas, for the
corresponding quarter of last year, they were 25, and if we examine the tables in my
previous Eeports, it will be seen that the average number of fever cases per week,
attended by the Medical Officers of the Union, for the year ending January 3rd,
1857, were 27, and for the year, 1856, they averaged 43 per week; and if we refer
to the records of fever cases for 1855, it will be found that they amounted to an
average of 52 per week.*
This most remarkable and highly satisfactory result, showing clearly the connexion
between sanitary improvement and the diminution of fever cases,—that class of
disease which occasions more suffering to the poor, and greater expense to the ratepayers
than any other,—must surely convince the most sceptical of the advantages of
carrying into effect the provisions of the Metropolis Local Management Act; and no.
*The number of Fever Cases in 1838 were 2537; in 1839, 1976; in 1840, 1145; in 1841,
1118; in 1842, 724; in 1843, 1185; in 1844, 1563; in 1845, 1467; 1846, 864; in 1847, 1157;
in 1848, 4113; in 1849, 2189; in 1850, 1684; in 1851, 2053; in 1852, 2322; in 1853, 2175;
in 1854, 2112; in 1855, 2721; in 1856, 2239 ; in 1857, (53 weeks) 1441.