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Again—that the outlay has been well justified is proved by the
significant fact that whereas the general London Zymotic death-rate for
1899 equalled 3.l per 1,000; that for our own District was only 2.1 per
1,000.
Here is to be found proof that a policy such as your Board in the past
has adopted has resulted in a considerable saving of human life.
With this brief preface I now commence the consideration of matters
more nearly concerned in an annual Report on the Sanitary condition of
the Whitechapel District. It would, however, ill become me to issue the
Report without expressing my deepest obligation to your Board for the
many kindnesses and acts of concession which I have experienced during
the years I have acted as your Medical Officer. From time to time it has
been my duty to ask for more help: I have never asked in vain. Once you
have appreciated the arguments I have brought forward, a ready
acquiescence has followed. This, coupled, with the loyalty of my staff, and
their devotion to duty, has made my work a pleasure from its very start.
The assistance and advice of my Colleagues, the Clerks, and the
Surveyor of your Board also demand a warm recognition at my hands.
The Whitechapel District over which your Board has had control for
Public Health and other purposes for 44 years, consists of some 22 miles of
streets; it has an area of 406 statute acres (including 23 acres of water);
it contains an estimated population of 85,000 persons of all ages; it
possesses about 9,000 inhabited houses; and its rateable value for the
present year is stated to be £447,516.
Up to the present time about one half of the inhabited houses have been
specially inspected, that is to say particulars of every part of each house
are entered in a book which is properly indexed. Measurements are
accurately recorded, details as to sanitary provisions, water supply, paving
of yard, and general condition of the house are carefully registered. The
drains are also tested. It is the last mentioned item which causes the
work to proceed so slowly, because in an enormous number of cases the
drains have to be reconstructed. All such work receives a daily visit from
the Inspector so as to prevent the covering over of imperfectly laid or
carelessly made drains. It is clear, therefore, that such extra work occupies
a large portion of the time of your Inspectors, but the tabulated record of
such useful work is to my mind of the utmost value.
The marriages which took place within the Whitechapel District during
the year numbered 505. Last year they amounted to 512, and in the two
previous years they were respectively 504 and 434.
The total births which were registered in the three Sub-registration
Districts during the 52 weeks of the year 1899, amounted to 3,005, as
compared with 3,125 for the year 1898.
In the Whitechapel Infirmary 124 births took place. Of this number 26
were the children of women who had not previously resided in the District.

So that the number of births as corrected amounted to 2,979, viz., 1,516
boys, and 1,463 girls. See Table A* of the Appendix.
*Page 30.