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hooping-cough, 251 of diarrhoea, and 108 of fever. In the corresponding
quarter of last year the total number of new cases was 3,362.
The new cases of disease in the Workhouse have been 818. Of these Mr.
Champnkys attended 411, and Mr. Richardson 407. Included in the total
number are 3 of scarlet fever, 2 of hooping-cough, 54 of diarrhoea, and 117 of
fever. There are also 2 of carbuncle, 2 of eiysipelas, 6 of rheumatic fever, 3
of dysentery, and 4 of delirium tremens.
Two additional water-waste preventers have been erected since my last
report. Ten of these machines are now in operation in the district. They
continue to give satisfaction.
On comparing the present mortality of the district during this quarter
with that of the corresponding quarters of the years 1856 to 1861, it will
be seen that the number of deaths is now much greater, although we have
not any direct evidence to show that the population has increased. During
the years 1851 to 1861 the population slightly decreased, and since 1861
a great many houses, chiefly occupied by the poor, and for the most part
overcrowded, have been pulled down. This fact might lead us to suppose that
the population had decreased; but from inspection of the houses in the district
generally, there is good reason to believe that the population has actually increased
; for as many houses which were formerly occupied by single families
are let out in separate tenements, and every room now contains a distinct
family,—and to such an extent is this separate letting of rooms carried out that,
from information given to me, there is not a single street in the Parish of
Whitechapel that is not more or less a nursery of pauperism in consequence
of this sub-division of tenements. From this it may be inferred, that not
only are the houses in the district more crowded, but that the population is
of a poorer class, amongst whom disease and death are of more frequent
occurrence than among the upper classes. The increase of mortality may
therefore be to some extent accounted for; and to strengthen this supposition,
it appears that an annual increase in the number of paupers has taken place,
as is shown by the subjoined return, which has been kindly given to me by
Mr. Farr, jun. Thus, from Lady-day 1861 to Lady-day 1862, the number
of in-door paupers, exclusive of the class of casual poor, was 4,403, and of
out-door 20,217; in 1863 the number of in-door was 4,970, and of out-door
20,461; in 1864, 4,746 in-door, and 21,270 out-door; and in 1865 the number
of in-door was 4,772, and of out-door 23,137,—the in-door and out-door for
this year making together 28,909. As the population is 78,970, no less than
36*6 per cent. or more than one-third have received relief either as in-door or
out-door paupers. If the name of each person relieved appeared only once in
the return, the number of paupers in this district would be most startling.
In the year terminating December 31st, 1864, the number of out-door and
in-door sick poor together (as is shown by the returns of the Medical Officers
of the Union) was 18,044.
It may not perhaps be difficult to a certain extent to account for this