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between 10 and 20, a time, when man has passed through the diseases of childhood, and not
yet acquired those that are fatal in the middle age. Seven of the 18 were accidents principally
from drowning, which reduces the mortality From maladies to 11, not a fiftieth part of the
whole (592).
One hundred and seventeen died from zymotic diseases, 34 from fever, 6 from small-pox,
14 from measles, 20 from scarlatina, 15 from diarrhœa, 25 from hooping-cough, and three
from diphtheria. All who succumbed to diarrhoea were children, under five years of age.
There were 51 deaths from natural decay, one between 50 and 60, seven between 60 and 70,
24 between 70 and 80, and two between 80 and 90, the oldest being 96.
Let us now turn to the sanitary work done. During the year 56 notices were served
for miscellaneous nuisances, principally arising from imperfect drainage and accumulations of
filth; and in 190 houses, proper drains were laid down and completed.
There needs no comment on the importance of the above figures; they indicate that
a large amount of amelioration as regards the sanitary condition of dwelling-houses has
been effected throughout the Parish, and this quietly, and without any appeal to the Magistrate;
for be it said with pleasure, no summons was taken out last year. Thus pursuing
gently their onward course, and thus carrying out for nearly ten years the spirit of the
Metropolitan Local Management Act without exercising any oppressive powers, the Vestry
has done its best endeavours to make the place more healthy ; and let any impartial person
compare the present state of Rotherhithe with its state eleven years ago, when Dr. Sutherland
reported upon it, and he must, and he will admit, that in no locality in London has the
work of sanitary improvement been more efficiently executed.
But on the other side, are not the efforts of the Vestry to prevent disease more than
counteracted by two huge nuisances over which they have no control, and which are allowed
to remain ? I mean the Surrey Mill Stream, and the Earle Sewer, that roll their polluted
tide through the heart of Rotherhithe. Part of the Surrey Mill Stream has been covered in,
and some hopes are entertained that other portions of it will undergo the same process. The
black ditch, or Earle Sewer, continues in the same state as it always has been; let us then
earnestly pray that the Metropolitan Board will have pity on the inhabitants of Rotherhithe,
and arch over or do away with this stream of impurities.
The water supplied to the Parish by the two companies is of good quality. Some complaints
have been made by residents in Glebe Terrace, and Cross Street, Deptford Road, of
scantiness of supply.
The Scavenging is well done.
The Cow-houses and Slaughter-houses are regularly inspected. No complaint has ever
been made against them.
A fun has been put up at the Globe Wharf Manure Factory, whereby the gases generated
in the process of manufacture, are driven into a high shaft. The nuisances formerly
arising from the Factory have been thereby diminished.
1 he Atlas Works, Jamaica Level, a fish Manure Factory, have been frequently visited
by the Sanitary Officers, and commented upon in my monthly reports. The machinery
erected there for the suppression of the nuisance has certainly not succeeded in the hands of