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4
of Nuisances. I have found the sanitary conditions generally
satisfactory. Some of the smaller houses occupied by the poor
are very defective in cleanliness, but the drainage is generally
satisfactory and the defects arise chiefly from the improvidence
and want of cleanliness of the inhabitants. Most of the defects of
which I have complained in former years have happily disappeared.
We have no longer to complain of accumulations of foul
refuse, nor unwholesome roads. The drainage system is a vast
improvement on our former arrangements and is entitled to a
large share of the credit of our improved healthfulness as shown
by the death-rate. There is no further trouble with foul well
water. All this has taken many years to accomplish, but it has
proceeded steadily from the passing of the Sanitary Acts.
I do not wish to imply that we have arrived at perfection;
but what has been effected has proved so beneficial as to
encourage further efforts.
Several rows of houses in Mortlake that were defective in
ventilation and flushing have been put in a better sanitary
condition. There are still some that are deficient that will be
dealt with as occasion offers.
I have inspected the Milk-shops, Dairies, Slaughter-houses,
and Bakehouses, and found them generally satisfactory—the
underground Bakehouses give the most trouble.
The number of Infectious Diseases notified were nearly
the same as last year, and that with a considerable increase in the
population. There were more cases of Scarlet Fever and not so
many of Diphtheria; there was one death from each disease. Sixty-six
cases of Scarlet Fever were notified for Barnes, and twenty-five for
Mortlake. A large proportion of Barnes cases occurred in the
Castelnau District, near Hammersmith Bridge.