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33
11 diarrhœa, 18 fever, 11 rheumatism, 34 bronchitis
and other diseases of the lungs, and 4 of ophthalmia.
In every respect we must pronounce the summer
quarter of 18G2 as more unhealthy than any of the
corresponding quarters since 1857.
The principal scat of disease and death has been
the vicinity of Bedfordbury, Shelton-court being especiallv
remarkable. Several eases of fever having occurred
there, as well as many other diseases. The
structure of the houses in this court is favourable to
the spread of disease; the rooms are small and necessarily
overcrowded, for there is hardly one in this
court containing a sufficient number of cubic feet for
two adults and I need not say that most of the rooms
arc occupied by many children in addition to the two
parents. The waterclosets arc close to the houses in
narrow confined yards, some of them deserving the
name of holes rather than yards. The drains arc in
almost every instance untrapped, for the bell traps are
always stolen, and the emanations from the sewers
have free access into the houses.
I have written several times to the proprietor of
these houses, Mr. Flight. His agents have carried
out most of the suggestions made, although rather
tardily; the inhabitants themselves make a large
amount of dirt, and do very little for themselves in
regard to cleanliness. That a better order of things
is possible may be seen by the very respectable condition
of Turner's-court and one or two others running
out of Bcdfordbury. The drains in Shelton-court, as
well as most in the parish, have been flushed, and
the emanations from the gullyholes have been less
offensive.