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10
The influence of the river, besides is very great in other respects,
and before entering on special mortality. there will be great propriety in
giving the legal rateable boundary-
Limehouse.
Ratcliff.
Shadwell
Wapping.
Acres
249
113
68
41
Half the Thames
16
19
31
39
Land and Water Total
265
132
99
80
It is now that the "polluted" Thames comes to bear on special
disease, and I have to show how far the "Old Father," as an adjutant
to the Sanitary staff, merits all the obloquy heaped upon him of late
years. If he be the enemy enunciated by some splendid theorists, his
devastations ought to be the most striking where his influence in the
most felt. For example, Shadwell and Wapping, in his huge embraces
nearly half water, ought, by all the propriety of sentiment, to be at this
moment in the agonies of zymotic dissolution. Let us see-
Amount of Six principal Zymotic Deaths for the Year 1862-3
• Small Pox.
Fever.
Scarlatina &
Diphtheria
Measles
Whooping
Cough.
Diarrhœa
Total
Persons per
1000.
Limehouse
18
64
26
39
12
22
181
6.5
Ratcliff
12
38
11
25
9
17
112
6.5
Shadwell
3
9
8
6
7
5
38
4.6
Wapping
4
†3
3
3
1
2
16
4.3
* Two of these in the Workhouse.
† The mortality from small-pox is heavy. Probably from a greater ignorance
among the poor at the East End of London led to the prophylatic power of
nation being disregarded till this epidemic had told its tale of woe. Then the
public vaccinators were, all at once, beset by applicants. The zeal of these
gentlemen in the field of benevolence has been rewarded 4 by 3,013 successful cases,
in the course of year. The number is large, in comparison with the 1,866
births. But, then, as showing besides, the neglect of parents and others, upwards
of 1,800 were of children and others above a twelve month old.