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summer a little in excess, and the autumn decidedly so. The range of
temperature which is more important as regards health, than the mean
temperature, was also less than usual. The variations both in the
thermometer and barometer were very large at certain periods of the
year, and were speedily followed by an increased mortality. The
influence of a reduced temperature is very strikingly shown by the
mortuary rate at the end of November, and in the first fortnight of
December, during which period ten cold days (Nov. 26, to December 5)
and ten warm days occurred (November 23, 24, and December 6 to 13)
in the former no less than 1,844, and in the latter only 1,505 deaths took
place. The increase of mortality, as might have been expected, affected
chiefly those under one and above forty years of age, and was caused
especially by consumption and inflammatory diseases of the lungs, but
it extended also to most other diseases. Parents should, therefore, be
exceedingly careful in protecting infants from the vicissitudes of the
weather, and especially from cold. The practice of " hardening
children," as it is called, is very frequently fatal in its results, as,
although it may strengthen a strong child, it very frequently kills a
weak one.
The meteorology of Hackney has been very similar to that of
Greenwich, the chief variation having been in the range of temperature,
which has not been so large, the night temperature not having been
quite so low, nor the day so high. At Upper Clapton, or on Hackney
Downs, it is, however, most probable that the range would be about
the same as at Greenwich Observatory.
I may mention, as we are now entering upon a series of warmer
years than those we have lately experienced, that it is very probable
that diarrhoea and other summer diseases will prove more fatal than
during the last or the previous years.
The total number of nuisances removed during the year by
Mr. Valentine, your Inspector of Nuisances, is 1,567, very many of
which required my supervision, or were discovered in the course of
sanitary inspections performed in those localities in which epidemic
diseases had appeared. The following shows the varieties of nuisances
abated:—
Cesspools emptied, filled up, and drained into the sewer 372
Cesspools emptied 407
Horse, Cow, and Pig refuse removed 347
Rooms limewashed and purified, and dilapidated houses repaired... 93
Road gullies cleansed, &c 51
Filthy roads cleansed 20
Filthy and offensive places cleansed and purified 35
Pigsties purified or removed 43
Stinking drains opened and cleansed 164
Foul and offensive ditches cleaned out 31
„ „ covered over 4
Collections of ashes and dust removed 96
Cases at Police Courts 12
I may mention, in connexion with the above, that it was necessary
for me to attend at the Police Court in all these twelve cases and in
addition to the list detailed above, there were six cases of trade
nuisances which were abated, including the removal of two dust-yards
from the district; also, that in several cases, more than one attendance
was required, each involving a very large expenditure of time.