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on the south side it is 38.4 per 1000. To a superficial observer the physical
condition of the two localities would not appear to differ materially the one
from the other ; and if inquiry were made into the water supply in the two
districts, it would be found that each is supplied by the same two companies,
viz., the East London and the New River ; and so far as the pavement and
sewerage are concerned, little or no difference exists. No cesspool is known
to exist in cither locality. Let us now see in what respects the one district
differs from the other.
Firstly—as regards the population. The inhabitants on the south side
are chiefly Irish labourers, who earn a very precarious living by working in
the docks and on the wharves by the river side. The women are for the
most part engaged in sack making and wood chopping; while on the north
side the population chiefly consists of English Jews, who, although for the
most part poor, are a sober and industrious class, and who possess some
feeling of self-respect, which is manifested by tho greater cleanliness of their
houses and of their wearing apparel.* While, on the other hand, the
inhabitants of the south district are dirty in their persons, and have but
little self-respect, either in their desire to wear clean clothes or to keep
their rooms clean.
Secondly—as regards the houses. On the north side the houses are for
the most part smaller, consisting only of two rooms each, are in tolerably
good repair, and are occupied by only one family. Most of the houses have
back yards, in which the privy is situated, which, being only used by one
family, is kept clean. While, on the south side, the majority of the houses
are without back yards, are very old, and are constantly requiring repair.
The great evil which is found to prevail on the south side is not only the
small size and inadequate ventilation of the rooms, but the overcrowding of
many of them. In ten rooms, recently measured by Mr. Battram, the cubic
space allotted to each person varies from 94 feet to 269 feet. Nearly all the
Courts in this locality are provided with public privies. These are found to
be great nuisances, for it is impossible to keep them clean, and the smell
from them is frequently perceptible in the houses contiguous to them.
Since this report was presented to the Board, (about three weeks ago)
22 cases of fever have occurred in this locality. What is to be done with
this mass of old and badly-constructed houses, the inhabitants of which
suffer a rate of mortality nearly double to that of other districts ? This
question is more easily asked than answered. I may, however, venture to
suggest to the Trustees of the Peabody Fund, that a more appropriate site
for the building of commodious and healthy dwellings for the dock labourers,
and others working on the wharves and on the river, cannot be found.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
15, Great Alie Street. JOHN LIDDLE.
* The comparative immunity of the Jews from cholera was mentioned in my
Report to the Board of Health, in 1849, and was published at page 82 of the Report
on Cholera, by the late Mr, Grainger,