View report page

60
SANITARY.
It will be seen on reference to the Report of the Medical
Officer of Health, commencing on page 149, and the appendices
thereto, that continuous attention has been paid to
the abatement and removal of nuisances. It is impossible,
however, to convey any accurate idea of the extent or value
of sanitary work by the mere tabulation of figures. The
most satisfactory proof of the value of this department of
the Vestry's work is afforded by the reduction in the rate
of mortality in the Parish since the creation of a sanitary
department some thirty years since.
Without here further entering into details, it may be remarked
that the Medical Officer of Health reports that the
death rate of the parish was 12.96 per 1,000 for the year
1888, as compared with a rate of 18'5 for the whole
Metropolis. The cases of fever were unusually numerous
during the year, but were chiefly infantile in character and
marked by a very low rate of mortality. Thus, 2 cases of
small-pox, 59 of scarlet fever, 11 of enteric or typhoid fever,
and 2 of diphtheria, came under the knowledge of the
sanitary officers, but only 9 deaths were attributable to these
diseases.
Two officers have been constantly engaged in the work of
inspection with a view to detecting and removing nuisances,
but the Vestry are still more anxious to prevent unsanitary
conditions which give rise to nuisances.
With this object they once more appeal to the parishioners
for intelligent co-operation, especially to such as by their
avocations are brought into contact with residents in the
poorer and more crowded districts. The Vestry will be glad
at all times to receive early information of any nuisance or