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18
number 620—339 males and 281 females; this is 26
deaths more than the year 1869.
In the year 1870 smallpox proved fatal to 3. The
late Medical Officer appears to have used his best endeavours
in urging re-vaccination to the inmates of
those houses in the poor districts in which smallpox
had made its appearance. About the middle of the
year smallpox was very prevalent in Bedfordbury,
owing, no doubt, to the great number of people living
in each house, and the want of proper precaution
amongst them in guarding against the spread of this
scourge.
Bedfordbury, as in former years, appears still to be
a source of trouble. The habits of the people are so
dirty, and the houses old and dilapidated, and not at
all adapted to modern sanitary arrangements. The
most effectual remedy would be to pull the place down,
and construct proper dwellings where cleanliness could
be better enforced. Mr. Beale, in his report for
August, says:—“I have by frequent inspections endeavoured
to improve the condition of the houses in Bedfordbury
and adjoining courts, but the population is
so great, especially in numbers of children, that the