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built houses being let out in tenements and single
rooms, attract a class of persons barely able to
obtain necessaries of life, amongst these not a few
are of intemperate and demoralized habits, with
feeble vital stamina—consequently there is, and
will be, a larger proportion of sickness, chronic
pauperism and deaths in the parish than formerly.
This deterioration of race has for some time
been recognized by Medical Officers of Health, and
it forms chiefly the staple practice of Poor Law
Medical Relief of large cities; statesmen, too, are
beginning to look to it, for if it be not a phase of
national decay, it is as Mr. Disraeli spoke of it at
Manchester, "an evil of such enormous and growing
proportions, that it should be earnestly and
instantly grappled with."
Density of Population in parts of the Parish.
Paddington forms two sub-districts of the
Kensington Registration District.
The population in April 1871, was—
In St. John's District 38,082
In St. Mary's . ,, 58,702
96,784
The annual rate of increase during the last
10 years was 2100 persons; therefore the population
at the present time, with one year's increase added,
is 98,984; it will be 100,000 when this Report is
printed and circulated.
I he number of persons to each house would