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3
From all these considerations I am undoubtedly of opinion that the
inhalation of the dust which blows so profusely about your roads in the
summer time, containing as it does so large a proportion of pulverized
stone and sand, must prove decidedly detrimental to health; and that
there is no sanitary objection to the watering of roads on the grounds of
fermentation of the animal matter contained in the dust. We must
not look to the mortuary tables alone for evidence of injury to health,
but rather to the amount of personal discomfort suffered by those who
are exposed to the influence of any annoying or irritating agent, for
if it were otherwise, it is quite clear that no proceedings could be successfully
instituted against persons causing a nuisance. So, in the
same way, we must not look to the Hackney mortuary tables and say
that because the duration of life is high and the rate of death from pulmonary
and other diseases comparatively small, that no causes for ill
health exist in the District, for there is still a great deal to be done,
besides watering the roads, before the district will be in as good a sanitary
condition as could be wished. I allude chiefly to the drainage
works which have to be completed. It must not. however, be supposed
that the drainage works have not been attended to as usual,
for on the contrary there has not been so large a number of cesspools
filled up and of privies converted into water-closets as during the
past quarter; and the sewers are being completed with moderate speed.

The total number of births in the district have been 610, and of
deaths 475, so that the excess of births over deaths have been 135; of
the total births 36 were registered in Stoke Newington sub-district;
40 in Stamford Hill; 2'25 in Hackney sub-district; 123 in South Hackney;
and 180 in West Hackney. Of the 475 deaths, 31 were registered
in Stoke Newington; 19 in Stamford Hill; 200 in Hackney sub-district;
95 in South Hackney; and 130 in West Hackney. Of the 475
deaths in the district 109 were registered of children under 1 year of
age, 116 of young persons above 1 year but under 20 years of age; 03
who were above 20 but under 40 years; 75 who were more than 40 but
less than 60 years; 89 who were above 60 and under 80; and no less
than 23 who were more than 80 years old,
Of the 475 deaths a very large proportion, viz. 58, arose from hoopingcough
and scarlatina, 38 having been from scarlatina and 20 from hoopingcough.
The mortality from hooping-cough was reudered so great by