London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Mile End 1882

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hamlet of Mile End Old Town]

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104
regard to matters bearing upon the public health, and, therefore,
upon the public immunity from disease, and the public comfort,
convenience and well being. He desires emphatically to acknowledge
that his efforts have been well supported; and he thinks the
Vestry may congratulate themselves upon having done a great
deal to advance hygiene in this densely populated part [of the
metropolis, inhabited as it is so very largely by the poorer classes,
among many of whom neglect of sanitary regulations is, unfortunately,
habitual. Your Medical Officer would bear testimony,
also, to the willing assistance he has received from many bodies
and individuals outside your own body, who in times of stress from
epidemics, dangerous to the population, have come forward to
second his own efforts.

Subjoined is a Statement of the population according to the census, showing the rate of decennial increase, with the quinquennial death rate per 1000 population living from the year 1856.

Year.Decennial Population.Quinquenl. death-rate per 1000 pop ulation livg.Remarks.
186173,06125.4
186638.56Inclusive of cholera cases.
187191,14621.76
187021.23
1831110,00022.44Inclusive of small-pox cases.
188221.55

During the twenty-six years covered by this summary Report,
the population of the Hamlet has increased from 61,500 to 110,000,
and most of the vacant spaces have been built upon. For cesspools
and imperfect brick drains, an arterial system has been
substituted, which is being at present extended to receive the overflow
of excessive rainfall. Wells, mostly polluted, more or less,
with sewage infiltration, have been closed, and an abundant provision
of water, on the constant supply system, has been substituted.
Great improvements have also been effected in the paving of the
streets, in the provision of dust bins and abolition of dust heaps,
both in the back yards of the houses and such open spaces as used
to offer temptation for the deposit of offensive and injurious rubbish