View report page

7
London Wall, and on the 13th a man at Camberwell. So that it appears
tolerably certain the Cholera poison was in existence in London, in all quarters,
several days before the alleged " explosion" from Old Ford.
There were certain predisposing causes, no doubt, operating largely on
those who experienced the early onslaught. Amongst the well-to-do classes
may be enumerated intemperance, excesses generally, long fasting, and
depressing cause- commonly of body and mind ; while in addition, among the
poorer portion of the community, may be reckoned scanty and improper food,
filthiness, and frequently neglected ventilation and drainage. In the second
week in July the sanitary condition of the Limehouse District was good, as
it had for some months been from 15 to 20 per cent. below the average on
the last 3 years. Hut at that same hour death was standing ready. The
first three cases occurred at Nos. 72 and 73, North Street, on the 11th and
13th of July; and thereupon, whatever the sources of mischief may turn out
to be, were rapidly brought into action, the pestilence came down like a
hurricane, swept away these classes, taking a north-easterly direction.
The deaths from Cholera alone in this district have amouuted to 515 to
tho 27th of October.
The origin of this epidemic is unknown; its travels are equally a mystery.
Tho water poison theory will not explain it, and our sanitary experience
is taxed in vain in an endeavour to trace out the positive causes of its
special localistion
It may be interesting to make a general comparison of the Lastern
Districts using the condemned water, to see how far that will help us in our
enquiry, for tho 10 weeks ending the 1st of September, including their resume
deaths from Cholera aud Diarrhœa, in that period :—
Elevation above Trinity
High Water Mark.
Feet
Persons to
an acre.
Average
House
Rental.
Poor Rate,
parts in 1,000
on the
Rantal
Deaths from
Cholera and
Diarrhoea.
Deaths in
each 10,000
persons.
Bethnal Green
38
115
£9
.136
688
62
Mile End
21
118
£20
.066
545
67
St. George's-in-East
21
196
£32
.080
459
96
Poplar and Bow
8
34
£44
.060
929
93
Limehouse District
21
97
£20
.066
668
118
• I suspect there is an error in this quotation of the Registrar General's Report, in placing the
Mile End and Limehouse District Rental on an quality.