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9
Between 1856 and 1861, a large number of houses were pulled down
in the Parish, and very few re-built, so that, in 1861, the inhabitants
had only increased by 927; since that period, the Corporation Buildings
and the Cobden Buildings have been erected, adding alone about 1000
inhabitants, and other houses have been built. The only approximate
comparison that can be made, is to ascertain the per centage of deaths
in 1856 from the latter and the Census of 1851, and that of the deaths
in 1869, in reference to the Census of 1861. Between the years 1851
and 1861, the population had increased only 927— 92.7 per annum.
If 5 years increase (1851 to 1856) be added as the increase, the
population becomes 65,168 for 1856. 1313 deaths in this population
is— 2.01 (for 1856). The population at the Census of 1861, was 65,632 ;
adding 8 years increase at the former rate, the population becomes
66,373 for 1869. The deaths being 1512, the death rate is 2.2 per
cent., so that, in this calculation the death rate has somewhat increased,
still, considering the increased number of births, the population will
probably be found to have increased in a greater ratio than this.
If the Scarlet Fever, which has been for some time so prevalent and
fatal, may be regarded as a standard of good sanitation, the number of
deaths occurring from that disease in this and a few other Parishes may
be compared. During the year 1869 the deaths to 100,000 persons
living, were in Clerkenwell, 164; Holborn, 209; St. Luke's, 278;
St. George, Hanover Square, 48; Lewisham, 49; Hackney, 231; Bethnal
Green, 365; Bermondsey, 386 ; &c.
That the general condition and management of the Parish has been
vastly improved, will be seen at once from the answer to question 3,
where a list of the sanitary works which have been effected is given.
Water Supply. The water supply has been greatly improved
since 1856. In addition to the filtering works, and enclosed in
tubes of the New River, all the old obnoxious stand-pipes have
been done away with. In every court there is always a supply of water
at all times. All the shallow and other public wells and pumps have
been done away with or locked. And all, or nearly all, for we
believe only one remains, of the underground cisterns are destroyed