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16
In my last Report I congratulated the Vestry on the Epidemic
of Small Pox being nearly extinct. I can still continue to do so
in this Report. It will be seen that there were only 13 deaths
from this disease during the year, 8 of which were strangers
to the district brought to Stockwell Hospital, leaving but 5
deaths chargeable to Lambeth. The Poor Law Medical Officers
attended only 7 during the same period.
It will be seen that there has been much Sanitary work done in
Lambeth during the past year, and one of the chief requirements
that I alluded to in my last Report, has been in operation during
a short period of the year. I allude to the Rules and Regulations
for the prevention of over-crowding; it will be seen that 47
houses have been already registered and with the best results, this
is however an act that requires to be put in force with great
caution, and only in extreme cases where other means have been
found ineffectual. I have not met with any opposition or objection
on the part of the owners or occupiers of the houses already
registered. The 2nd requirement, that of a Mortuary, has not
yet been carried out, in consequence of the difficulties
attendant on obtaining a suitable site, but whilst these pages are
going through the press (August 7th), I am enabled to state that
considerable progress has been made towards this object, and I
hope before another year's Report we shall have one suitable
Mortuary, with dead house, post-mortem room, &c., erected for
the inner liberties.
As regards the 3rd requirement alluded to in my last Report,
namely, the erection of Baths and Wash-houses, I still maintain
the views I then expressed as to their necessity in every Sanitary
point, and whilst we have not yet had any Wash-houses erected,
I am glad to find 2 large Bathing Establishments have been
opened in different localities, namely, at Brixton and the Oval,
these are, I hope, but a commencement of a still greater want,
namely, providing places where the Poor can do the washing,
drying, and ironing of the clothes away from confined rooms,