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unable for a considerable period to resume their avocations; and in this weak
condition they were liable to fall an easy prey to its more dangerous ally —
Typhus, which usually followed in its rear. A liberal dietary, close sanitary
supervision, and the removal of the infected to the Hospital, were indicated
And carried out in the district. During the year 110 cases of Fever (Typhus,
Enteric, Continued and Relapsing), were removed to the Hospital; viz., from
Ratcliff 41; from Limehouse 20; and from Shadwell and Wapping 43. The
locality in Ratcliff that made the largest contribution to this list was London
Street, no less than 20 of the 41 cases having been removed therefrom. A
minute inspection of this street was made, and many of the houses discovered
to be in a filthy condition. In some cases ashpits were required, in others
the surface paving was defective, and in three or four the drains were untrapped.
With one or two exceptions the houses were let out in tenements, and as
usual in such cases over-crowding existed in some of the smaller rooms. The
majority of the occupants were pauperised, or very slightly raised above that
condition. I need hardly point out that conditions such as these were
eminently favourable to the development and propagation of fever. Your
Board took decisive steps regarding this street, and I am glad to say that
the disease, though not entirely eradicated, is of far less frequent occurrence.
Narrow Street, Harris' Court, and its immediate vicinity, and Stepney Causeway,
contributed the majority of the remaining cases—poverty, with its
concomitants—over-crowding, destitution, and dirt being usually present.
In Limehouse, Dalgleish Street and East Row stand out in unenviable prominence
as being favourite seats of fever during the year. Of the 26 cases
sent by Limehouse to the Hospitals, 7 were from Dalgleish Street, and 5
from East Row (one house.) Dalgleish Street is deficient in drainage, and
the 5 cases from East Row were relapsing fever, which, with some others,
were received into the London Hospital. They were all paupers. The