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Mr. J. W. Burrows informs me that during the year 1875-6, eighteen
bodies have been removed and placed in our temporary mortuary in
Church row.
[Since the printing of this report was "commenced, a joint meeting of the
Sanitary and Works Committees has been held. The matter was carefully discussed,
and it was resolved that the rector should be invited to confer with the
committee upon the subject, with a view to the conversion of the old watch house
in Church Row into a mortuary. Mr. Hansard met us in the most kindly and courteous
spirit, withdrew his former objections, and entered heartily into the subject
with us. Accompanied by Mr. Hansard, the committee visited the watch house, and
after completing the inspection, resolved that Mr. Mundy be requested to prepare
amended plans and specifications for the conversion of the building into a mortuary.
There is, then, a prospect of this much vexed question being speedily settled, and that
Bethnal Green will be as well provided with mortuary accommodation as any of the
neighbouring parishes.]
INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
Early in the year, feeling that we did not receive sufficient information
as to cases of infectious disease occurring in the district, I
obtained permission from the Sanitary Committee to send round a
circular to the medical men of the neighbourhood, of which the
following is a copy :—
"Dear Sir,— As it is of vital importance that cases of fever, &c., occurring in the
parish should be known to the sanitary authorities, may I request, as a personal
favour, that you would furnish me with the particulars of any cases amongst your
own patients; more especially where, either from neglect or want of means, proper
sanitary measures, such aS you would yourself recommend, are not likely to be carried
out. In order to save you as much trouble as possible, I enclose some stamped and
directed forms, and remain, &c."
I am sorry to say, I have not received much information from this
source at present.
By the recent resolution of the Vestry, previously referred to, we
shall receive immediate notice of all deaths from infectious disease
from the registrars. The following paragraph appeared in a recent
number of the Lancet:—
"We understand that the corporation of a large provincial town are about to
memorialise the Local Government Board for an amendment of the Public Health
Act, 1875, which shall provide for the communication without delay to the medical
officer of health of every case of small pox, scarlet fever, typhus, or typhoid, occurring
within his district; the duty of malting such communication to be made compulsory