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rate in the South Ward is probably greatly attributable to its better
class of houses, to the almost entire absence of narrow streets and
courts, it wider streets throughout nearly its whole area, and less
density of population and houses.
It is more difficult to find or even suggest a reliable cause for the
low rate in the West Ward; it contains, in the more western portion of
its area, some of the oldest, most densely populated, dirty, and generally,
unsanitary houses in the Hamlet, with many narrow streets and courts.
Added to these presumably adverse conditions, there are many unsavory
but necessary and useful industries carried on within its limits, and I
must add, with the least possible annoyance or offence, in recent years,
to the surrounding inhabitants, although, some years past, complaints
were frequent.
Table III. gives deaths from seven principal infectious diseases,
exclusive of diarrhoea, which, in my opinion, in its ordinary endemic
form, ought not to be included in this class of diseases, as is usually
done by the Registrar-General and others, implying that it is produced
by some specific poison or germ. This ordinary, or as it is often called,
summer diarrhoea, is invariably caused by improper feeding, tainted
food, or food which has been cooked in foul, or administered from,
unclean and impure vessels. The fatal cases occur chiefly to very young
and weakly children. The affection is easily produced, but may be,
generally, as easily prevented. Scarlet-fever was the most fatal in this
class, but seventeen less than in the previous year. Average for six
previous years 67.3. The Table shows the death-rate with and without
diarrhoea.
Table VII. Upon reference to this Table, showing the deaths from
infectious diseases during the year in the various streets, it will be seen
that there were eighteen deaths only in this class, exclusive of diarrhoea
in the West Ward, or an annual rate per 1000 population of 1.25 only,
compared with 2.68 for the whole Hamlet. This is certainly exceptional.
There was only one each in Plummer's Row and Thomas Street, three
in Essex Street, two Baker Street, whilst Yalford Street, Robert's Place
(Firmin Place), John's Place, and several others, are conspicuously
absent from the list. Much good is, I am sure, attributable to the
earnest work of the clergy and voluntary lay visitors, both local and
from the West of London, who have a well-organized staff of paid
efficient nurses acting under their control. This Ward is largely
tenanted by foreigners, and the numerous common lodgings have the
benefit of police supervision under the special Act. It may be useful to
mention here that the Office of the East London Nursing Society is at
No. 49, Philpot Street, where good nurses may be procured for private
cases, upon application to the Lady Superintendent.
The diseases included in this class demand the special attention of
the Sanitary Authority, in order to adopt measures for their suppression
and prevention. That such desirable results could be, at least practically,
attained, is certain. There are great difficulties to overcome, the
principal, perhaps, being the prejudice of relations and friends against
the removal of patients from their overcrowded homes, where the sick