View report page

5
The greatest number of deaths that occurred in any one week, during the
quarter, was for that ending on Saturday, the 31st July, when 65, including 9 inquests,
were registered; and the smallest number was for the week ending on Saturday, the
4th September, when 31 deaths, including 5 inquests, were recorded; the average
number of deaths per week, for the 13 weeks terminating on the 2nd October,
excluding non-residents, was 39.2.
Among the unspecified cases of death, there are recorded that of a female
child, aged 12 months, which the medical attendant certified as "probably smothered
in bed," and that of a newly born child, found in a loft, over a copper, on the ground
floor of a house in the Whitechapel road. In the former case, an inquest was not held,
but in the latter it was deemed necessary to hold one, when the jury returned the
verdict of ''Found dead." The crime of infanticide does not appear to be of frequent
occurrence in this district, and it is to be hoped that this is not an instance of it.
There are two cases of death of rather unusual occurrence, both certified by
medical practitioners, one of paralysis of the oesophagus, or gullet; the other, of thecal
abscess, or whitlow, in a child 9 years of age, to the certificate of which the medical
attendant appends the subjoined remarks, "Exhaustion, sudden. It is difficult to
assign a cause, as the whitlow (a very bad one), was nearly well, and no internal
disease was discovered at the post mortem examination." The number of new cases
of sickness attended by the medical officers of the union, exclusive of those in the
workhouse, was 2862. In the workhouse, there were 292 cases of sickness, 147 of
which were attended by Mr. Champneys, and 145 by Mr. Richardson. On comparing
the total number of cases of sickness among the out-door poor with that for the
corresponding quarter of last year, it will be seen that there is a diminution of 272;
and, if we compare the average number of fever cases for the same quarter, we shall
find that they are reduced from an average of 29 to an average of 9 weekly.
The annual visitation of the slaughter-houses in the district, has been recently
made, and all those premises which had previously been licensed were reported as
being in a satisfactory condition, that is to say, the necessary requirements insisted
upon by your Board were complied with. It would, however, be very desirable in a
sanitary point of view, if nil the slaughter-houses were removed out of this densely
populated district. A slaughter-house in a crowded neighbourhood is generally
admitted to be a nuisance. I have, at least, no hesitation in expressing my opinion
that a slaughter-house situated in the midst of dwelling houses is a nuisance injurious
to the public health, for the following reasons:— 1st. There is unavoidably the offensive
effluvium of slaughtering and dressing the carcases of the animals. 2nd. The offensive
effluvium arising from the crowding together, in a small space, the animals before they
are slaughtered, renders the surrounding air less healthy. 3rd. The blood which
sometimes flows into tanks or wells soon putrifies, when it emits most foul and poisonous
exhalations. 4th. The dung-heap, which is usually in the immediate vicinity of
the slaughter-house, gives out a most offensive and disgusting odour, and if the
premises be too small to afford room for a dung-pit, the refuse and filth are carried to