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It is the misfortune of the poorer classes to be the first sufferers by epidemic diseases,
and from this source they usually spread to other classes of the community. The Vestry at
one time gave hopeful signs of feeling the importance of the matter, but our efforts in this
direction have been crippled by the want of necessary assistance.
One hundred and sixty-two notices have been served for the removal of nuisances, we
have had to deal with dilapidated and dirty houses, defective drainage, foul accumulations of
fluid matte r and manure, and illegal keeping of Pigs ; in every case tho service of a notice was
sufficient to cause the removal of the nuisance, and no summons has been issued during the
past year.
A long-standing nuisance is nearly abolished, by the piping and partial filling in of the
Surrey Mill-stream.
The water-supply has not been satisfactory in the Western Division of the Parish, numerous
complaints are usually made in the spring and summer portions of the year, but during
past year they have been more loud and frequent; several communications with the Company
on the subject received very little courtesy, nor were they attended with much effect.
The Slaughter-houses have been inspected from time to time, and with one or two exceptions.
they were found in a satisfactory state.
The condition of the Bakehouses was not to be complained of, but the Vestry deemed it
necessary to present a copy of the Act of Parliament to every Baker in the Parish, to make
him acquainted with the obligation to keep his Bakehouse clean, and lime-whiten it periodically
In closing my remarks on the circumstances attending the first complete year of my
duty, as your Medical Officer, I cannot help expressing the gratification I feel in being enabled
to state such a very satisfactory condition of the Parish ; it has been the custom even in
quarters supposed to be well informed, to pronounce Rotherhithe an unhealthy place, but the
facts disclosed in this report must necessarily remove such a mistaken opinion.
With your kind assistance, and the zealous co-operation of those who are associated with
me in the work of sanitary improvement, I trust we shall see a farther reduction of the
death-rate.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL TILLEY.
Rotherhithe, August, 1868.
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