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17
The Mortuary was extensively utilised, and the Mill-dam cleansed and put in
proper order. In October a case of death from strangulated hernia was recorded .after
a longish illnesn: here no operation seems to have been attempted, set that this fatality
perhaps might be added to the list of preventable deaths.
In October our total mortality was below the monthly average, and we were
almost entirely free from non-fatal cases of small-pox, fever and other zymotics, which
then seemed generally prevalent in neighbouring localities.
I satisfied you and myself that some statements lately promulgated as to an
''enormouslv high child mortality and general unhealthiness in the new part of Roth-
erhit he,"were, on impartial investigation, proved to be quite unfounded; hut it is a
fact, that some property there has deteriorated in value, by reason of the offensive
trades carricd on in certain railway arches near, which nuisances have for many years
past been an eye-sore to the parish, and although, as just now, temporarily abated by
your directions are sure to again recur.
During November, our death-rate (14.3 per thousand) was lower than that of any
place mentioned in the Registrar General's Reports for the month. Carrying out your
orders and well supported by the Inspector of Nuisances, I systematically attended to
the nuisances in the railway arches above alluded to, much to the annoyance of the
occupiers, one of whom thought proper to prefer various charges against one, both
before you in Vestry and a Magistrate at the Police Court, all of which, however, he
signally failed to substantiate. As there seemed a general opinion in the country at
large, that undue laxity in the registration of uncertified deaths was not unfrequently
occurring. I reported to you that such at least was not the case in our Registration
Sub-district, no such deaths being there recorded until after the facts had been submitted
to the Coroner, and then only with his sanction.
Our health place for December was the 3rd highest of the Registrar General's
Returns, the corrected death-rate being 161. Measles, small-pox (the latter cases
again unvaccinated), and scarlatina, which had lately been epidemic in most parts of
London now appeared here, and your Officers all did their best in co-operation to
check the spread of these diseases, which, in conjunction with an unusual mortality
from violence, sent up the monthly death-rate. Fortunately, in spite of popular reluctance,
we were generally able to carry out removal to hospital and proper disinfection
in cases where such means were imperatively necessary, and having for the past twelve
months, been myself actively engaged in developing a regular supply of fresh calf
lymph, 1 have gratuitously undertaken the vaccination of all persons in infected houses
or otherwise, who would not consent to be protected by unvaccinised lymph. This step,
I may say, has the hearty approval of Dr. Johnston, the Public Vaccinator, whom I
previously consulted about it.
During the year, 392 canal boats passed through your waters; all were registered,
and none of them were' overcrowded, or had inmates suffering from illness. This satisfactory
state of so nomadic a population is accounted for by the fact that their boats