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9
public health depends, which had previously eluded
discovery; and they found it necessary to engage, for
a limited time, several assistant inspectors of nuisances,
who made a house to house visitation, and reported
fully upon all sanitary defects which were found. The
expense thus incurred was amply compensated by the
results produced, in the suppression of nuisances and
the removal of causes which tended to spread disease.
The following list of sanitary measures, adopted
during the year, in pursuance of orders of the Vestry,
will confirm this statement:
Cesspools abolished 976
Houses and premises connected with sewers 1097
Houses to which water laid on 457
Foul drains cleansed 421
Accumulations of dung and refuse removed 96
Traps provided for drains, closets, &c 1320
Premises from which pigs were removed 54
Houses cleansed and purified 237
The spread of Cholera throughout the Eastern parts
of London, and its almost complete isolation within
that area, coupled with the alarm given by the reports
of the Registrar General, impressed the Vestry with
the necessity of adopting proper steps for securing to
the East End of London an adequate supply of wholesome
water; and they therefore took the initiative by
convening a meeting of the members of all the
Vestries and Boards of Works within the Tower
Hamlets. The result was that a committee was formed,
in which those local authorities were represented, to
take the question of water supply into consideration.
From various causes the committee found it impracticable
to obtain special legislation, but, by fixing public
attention upon the question, they had considerable
B