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happy to believe that in your District this is the case. You will
observe from the Statistical Tables that 104 persons have died from
Epidemic Diseases.
Of these 2 died from Pyœmia,
4 from Erysipelas,
30 from Measles,
5 from Scarlet Fever,
3 from Diphtheria,
17 from Whooping Cough,
2 from Typhus and Typhoid Fever,
36 from Diarrhoea,
2 from Syphilis,
1 from Dysentery, and
2 from Croup.
The increase on the previous year arose principally from Measles,
of which there was an increase of 16 against a decrease from
Whooping Cough, Diarrhoea, and Fever. The Deaths from other
causes arc to a great extent attributable to Phthisis and Diseases of
the Respiratory Organs.
During the time it has been my distinguished honour to hold the
position of Medical Officer of Health to this Board, many substantial
improvements have been effected, the tendency of which, I
have no doubt, has been greatly to promote the sanitary condition
of the neighbourhood, and thus justified the expectations of those
who framed laws for the purpose, and those who in this District
have endeavoured to carry them out. I apprehend there is no
tenable reason why Deaths among the population of London
should not be reduced to the minimum number which reason and
experience teach us to expect. Still, before this be accomplished
much has to be done. Both the quality of the water and the
method of its supply are far from satisfactory. The unhealthy
dwellings of the poor at the present time are exciting very
general attention among a class whose position will possibly lead
to legislation on the subject. Complaints of the overcrowding in
unhealthy dwellings have been reiterated in my Annual Reports,
and frequently for years past pointed out by Local Authorities and
their Officers; but the subject has hitherto failed to gain that