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41
ascribed to syphilis or other constitutional disease. The excess
is rather considerable, as only 4.89 deaths were registered from
these causes in 1856.65, against 6.45 in 1866.75. In the first
decennium the death.rate did not exceed 5.5 in more than two
years, whilst in the latter it was in no instance less than 5.5,
having been as high as 7.6 in 1867, and 7.2 in 1875. The
deaths from old age were rather less in the last decennium, having
been 6.34 in 1866.75 against 6.96 in 1856.65. The deaths from
violence have decreased, as the ratio was 4.10 in the first and
3.14 in the last ten years. As the number of deaths registered
under this class differs very much according to the deaths from
drowning in the River Lea and the Regent's Canal, but little
attention need be paid to these variations, except to notice how
singularly close the death.rate from these causes has remained
during the period under discussion. This table deserves a
much more lengthened consideration, but the length to which
this report has already extended forbids the expenditure of
space.
The number and kind of nuisances abated each year having
been so fully considered in each report, and as but little benefit
would arise by recapitulating them, I shall merely state that a
Table will be found in the appendix showing the total number of
nuisances abated in each year, as well as of cesspools emptied, filled
up, and drained into the sewer; of houses cleansed, whitewashed
and repaired; of drains which have been relaid, repaired and
cleansed; and, since 1867, the yearly number of yards which
have been newly paved, or in which the paving was repaired. It
appears that there have been 5,246 cesspools emptied and filled
up since January 1st, 1856; the largest number having been
done in 1856, when no less than 1518 cesspools were destroyed,
and the smallest last year, when only 18 were discovered by the
sanitary staff. There is no doubt that several are still in
existence, although unknown to your officers, as they are only
found by a careful examination of premises respecting which
complaints are made of offensive smells.