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43
which were then enforced prevented the
spread of the disease westward, especially
along the low lying districts of the river, and
thus formed a barrier to its progress.*
The sickness returns for the year, as recorded
in the books of the Medical Officers of the City
Unions, indicate a less than usual proportion
of illness among the poor, for there were only
9,040 cases of sickness, the yearly average, for
the last seven years, being 11,005, and of these
645 were cases of fever, 1,047 of diarrhoea, and 25
of cholera. In the preceding year there were
11,419 cases of illness attended by the Union
Medical Officers, of which 756 were fever, 3,613
diarrhoea, and 98 cholera.
The Meteorology of the several months of
the year is shown in Table No. VI of the Appendix.
It is deduced from observations at
Guildhall, under the superintendence of Mr.
Haywood, and the principal facts may be thus
expressed:—
* The measures and agents employed in disenfecting the crowded houses
of the City poor, are detailed in a paper furnished by me to the RegistrarGeneral
at his request, and published by him in his Weekly Report for
November 24th, 1866.