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15
but the second item is furnished only at distant intervals—once
in ten years, when the census is taken—and nine years have
now elapsed since the last occasion of the kind. Now it has
been ascertained that London generally increases in a tolerably
uniform ratio. Consequently the number of its inhabitants can
be pretty accurately estimated for any date between successive
censuses, and its death-rate determined. But what is true of
London, is not equally so of its separate constituent parishes.
Thus, up to the last census, the increase of the population of
Camberwell had been both much more considerable and, at the
same time, much more irregular than that of London. It
follows, therefore, that although the number of inhabitants in
this parish might have been calculated with some degree of correctness
shortly after the last census, and even for several years
subsequently: it has become now, on the eve of another numbering
of the people, quite impossible to form any estimate
sufficiently accurate to be adopted as a safe basis of comparison.
I should add, however, that the sources of fallacy, here pointed
out, do not affect the calculations which I have given, and the
comparisons which I have made of the health of the parish
during the years 1858 and 1859. And I must repeat that the
mortuary tables, accompanying this report, indicate a decided
improvement in health; and this, not merely by a diminished
aggregate mortality, but by considerations deduced from the
ages of the defunct, the nature and progress of the diseases
which have prevailed, and the increased number of births.
The sanitary works accomplished during the year terminating
on the 2nd March, 1860, by myself and the Inspectors of
nuisances acting under me, have been considerable, and I believe
satisfactory. 2374 houses have been systematically iuspected.
As a result of these inspections, 280 houses have been whitewashed
and cleansed, and 79 repaired; 274 cesspools have been
emptied, and 120 filled up and abolished; 118 closets have been