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itself in a large increase in the death-rate, bat that the death-rate
did increase during that period above the normal is undoubted.
But health-injuring agencies in the vast majority of cases stop far
short of being fatal in their effects, and this is recognised in the
various Acts of Parliament relating to the public health; otherwise,
if we had to prove that every nuisance, which was injuring
health, had proved fatal to some individual, very few magisterial
orders to abate such nuisances would be made, and very little
progress would be made in the Public Health. But while deaths
are registered, cases of sickness, with the exception of certain
infectious diseases, are not recorded, so the lesser effects of the
scarcity of water are not to be estimated, although health injuring;
those killed may be numbered, but the injured will never be known.
And it was a matter of common knowledge and observation that
such minor effects were produced.
And making every allowance for fallacies connected with
statistics over a short period, and for exaggeration of incidents at a
period of mental excitement, I am of opinion for the reasons advanced,
that the health of Hackney did suffer seriously during, and
in consequence of, the scarcity of water last year.
THE HEALTH CONDITIONS OF HACKNEY WICK.
The following report, as a result of special instructions, was
presented during the year:—
Gentlemen,—In accordance with your instructions, I beg to
present to you a report upon the Health conditions of that part
of Hacknev. known as Hackney Wick. The circumstances, which
led you to instruct me to report thereon, were these: On the 27th
of July a letter was received by the Vestry from the Medical Officer
of Health to the London County Council, stating that a complaint
had been made to the Council, that during the four weeks ending
July 1st, the death rate had been abnormally high in certain streets
of Hackney Wick, and that under the circumstances, the Public
Health Committee considered it desirable, that your Medical Officer