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12
In my report for the quarter ended September, 1877 (page 16,) I stated
that the estimated population was 3,533,484, and which is now 3,577,304,
an estimated increase of 43,820. The population of London increased 16.1
per cent. in the decenniad 1861-71, and the density of persons to an acre
from 25 to 42. The density of persons in 1871 was 103 to a * hectare, 42
persons to an acre, 26,674 to a square mile.
It is now estimated that the density of persons
to a square mile is 29,322
Annual rate of increase of population, per cent.
1851-61, 1.73.
1861-71, 1.50.
The density of the population in London is continually increasing ;
thus, while in 1842 there were 16,367 persons to a square mile, there were
22,602 to a square mile in 1876. If it were not for the sanitary improvements
which are continually taking place in London, the rate of mortality
owing to the greater density of the population would have been materially
raised. The mortality in London has been reduced from 25 to 23 per 1000,
which is considered to be at least 3 per 1000 above what it ought to be,
and which we may hope will be soon attained. The Registrar-General
observes that the mortality of none of our towns should now exceed 20 per
1000. In the "Whitechapel District, as stated on the third page of this
report, the rate of mortality for the year ended March, 1879, was 25.6
per 1000.
Room Overcrowded by Young Children.
Mr. Wrack, Sanitary Inspector, on recently visiting some houses in
Freeman Street, Spitalfields, found on the ground-floor room of No. 24, a
woman and 25 children, all of whom were apparently under the age of 3
years, and several of them not more than 18 months old. These children
were left in charge of the occupier of the room, who was paid 3d. per week
for each child to take care of them during the day. The room was badly
ventilated ; the floor of which was in a wet and dirty condition. The
children were on the floor, there being neither chairs nor seats for their
accommodation. The size of the room was 15-ft. X 7-ft. X 7 ; thus
affording only 28 cubic feet of space for each child. The children were kept
here from nine o'clock in the morning until half-past five in the evening.
The atmosphere of this room as might be expected was exceedingly
offensive, and many of the children looked very pale and weakly. The
Inspector served notice on the occupier to abate the overcrowding. If
children are thus found huddled together in the manner described, it is not
surprising that the rate of mortality among them is so large.
An infant nursery or creche, if properly conducted, is one of the most
valuable institutions of modern times. In these establishments, infants
* A hectare is a French measure, containing 2.471143 statute acres,