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special attention must be drawn to the phenomenally low rate of the
sub-district of Stamford Hill, which was only 10.1 per 1,000; and
the sub-district of Hackney, which furnished the highest rate in the
district, was not more than 18.6 per 1,000—less than the rate for all
London.
Infectious diseases were very prevalent in the district
during 1896. Small-pox was introduced several times, but owing to
the prompt measures taken it did not spread. Scarlatina and
Diphtheria were excessive, the mortality of the latter being double
that of the previous year. Of the agencies concerned in the spread
of these diseases, not the least powerful is school influence, an
instance of which I record later in this report.
The long needed and expected report of the Royal Commissioners
on vaccination was issued during the year. There is, therefore, now
no reason why the parochial paralysis regarding vaccination, which
has existed so long, should still continue. The summary of the
main conclusions of the Commissioners, which I have included in
this report, will not be considered out of place.
The summer of 1896 was marked by another period of short
supply of water on the part of the East London Water Company,
resulting, in my opinion, in considerable inconvenience and injury to
health.
The removal of house refuse by a weekly house visitation has
proved very successful during the year in diminishing the number of
requests for its removal; but much remains to be done, especially
by the householders, if the full benefit of this system is to be
attained.
The work of the Sanitary Department in the abatement of
nuisances and the prevention of diseases has been very satisfactory.
The accompanying tables give the character and amount of work
done, and the legal proceeding instituted by the department