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may reasonably be inferred that the population of this District has diminished.
If the population of this District be estimated at 76,000, which is nearly
3000 less than when the census was taken in 1861, the rate of mortality has
been during this year 31.6 per 1000, or 1 in 31.3 of all living. In making
a comparison however, of the rate of mortality of this District with that of
others, the deaths in the London Hospital must be eliminated, which this
year amount to 506. Deducting therefore, the deaths in this institution from
the total deaths, the rate of mortality is 26 per 1000 or 1 in 39 of all living.
PAUPER ILLNESS IN THE DISTRICT.
The number of out door sick paupers who have been attended by the
Medical Officers of the TJnion has been 17417. This is an increase of 236
on last year's return.
Although it appears from Table VI. that the sick paupers are still
annually on the increase, yet, I have the satisfaction to remark, that during
the last quarter the number has diminished from 4357 to 3891, as is shown
in Table I. The large number of sick paupers need not surprise us when
the condition of the houses in some of the poor localities is considered; for
not only are many of the houses without sufficient ventilation, owing to the
want of open spaces at the rear, but the rooms are overcrowded. The result
of this state of things is, first ill health and then pauperism. The prevention
of disease and its consequence—pauperism— has not received the attention
which its importance demands. It is in the unhealthy localities of largo
towns that pauperism usually begins and is continued. This may, to a certain
extent, be accounted for by the fact that the majority of the inhabitants of the
dirty and overcrowded places are both physically and mentally unable to work
at such employment as will secure to them the means of honestly supporting
themselves and families. Any occupation which does not require much physical
exertion is preferred, and hence many of this class take to begging and
thieving for a livelihood. Consumption and other forms of mesenteric disease
are in these badly ventilated places of frequent occurrence, both among the
children and the adults. All such persons must be supported by the poor
rate, for they are unable to support themselves. It is therefore to the
unhealthy dwellings of the poor that public attention must be directed, and
in my opinion, nothing short of the pulling down of the numerous houses
situated in the close localities in London, and preventing the persons now
occupying these houses from overcrowding other localities, will, in any
appreciable degree, diminish sickness, pauperism, and the large criminal
class, who congregate in these densely populated places. Immense sums of
money have been spent in public improvements by the formation of railways
and the making of thoroughfares, but very little has been done by the
Government or local authorities to improve the physical condition of the poor
by taking clown all houses that have not sufficient light and ventilation.
The vacant ground might be sold to parties who would erect more suitable