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The above plan enables me to show how, to some extent, the
increase in Constitutional and Respiratory diseases arises, and but
for which the Whitechapel District would compare most favorably
with the whole Metropolis; you will notice that the deaths in
Registered Common Lodging-houses from these two classes of
disease constitute over 7 per cent, of the total District mortality.
Whilst on this subject, it may not altogether be out of place if I
allude to certain institutions which have latelj- appeared in the
District; they are founded for philanthropic purposes, and they
escape police supervision because they avoid registration under the
Common Lodging-houses Acts. These so-called 'shelters' are
open apparently to all comers, and the friends of the 'Associations'
endeavour with great vigour to supply them with lodgers collected
from all parts of the Metropolis and elsewhere. It might have
been hoped that the principals of the ' shelters ' would draft their
visitors into useful employment in London, the Country, or even
in the Colonies—but a few particulars which I have been at the
trouble to collect do not support the theory that such is the
intention of the promoters of these refuges. At any rate, the
result has not been in that direction.
I find that the District Medical Officers have, during the year