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Daring the past quarter I have visited several of the cow houses in
the District, and have found most of them somewhat overcrowded, illventilated,
and imperfectly drained and paved. The latter I consider
a most glaring defect, as the urine and other fluids soak between the
stones into the earth, and cause at times unpleasant smells. On pointing
these out to the proprietors they stated that as soon as the warm weather
came the cows would be sent into the fields. I have, therefore, delayed
taking any further steps than having the necessary notices served for
keeping the sheds clean. I purpose during the summer bringing the matter
again to your notice, as the supply of wholesome milk, (which can be
secreted by healthy cows alone), is very important.
In accordance with my usual custom, I have inspected, in company
with the Inspector of Nuisances, a large number of houses and localities in
which epidemic diseases have prevailed, and have detected many local
causes to account for their severity, and directed in each case those means
to be adopted which I considered necessary. I have also inspected
many nuisances which could not be abated by the ordinary means; and
so successful has the plan been of personally inspecting them under these
circumstances, and then summonsing the owners of the property to this
Board, that we have not had to take proceedings before the Magistrates in
any one of these cases, all cause of complaint having been immediately
removed.
The number of Births during the quarter ending March 28th, was 603
in the whole District, of which 42 occurred in Stoke Newington, 37
in Stamford Hill, 196 in West Hackney, 225 in Hackney, and 100
in South Hackney Sub-districts.
The Deaths from all causes during the same period was 409, so that
the Births exceeded the Deaths by nearly one half; of these 31 were
registered in Stoke Newington, 27 in Stamford Hill, 96 in West Hackney,
122 in Hackney, and 53 in South Hackney Sub-district.
I have prepared a statement of the sickness of the district from the
books of the Parochial Medical Officers, from which it appears that 3,455
cases were attended to by them, of which 191 were of epidemic diseases.
A comparison between the sickness and the Meteorology shows that the
greatest amount of sickness followed the two coldest weeks of the quarter;
and that in the six cold weeks, namely those below 40° F., the average
number of cases of sickness was 281, and of deaths 34 per week ; whilst
in the seven weeks during which the temperature was above 40° F.,
the average number of cases of sickness was 250, and of deaths 29.
These correspond with previous results, and show that cold weather so far
from being beneficial, is injurious to health and life.