View report page

15
vary in different years according to the modifications of atmospheric
conditions. But the great fact remains that Fever, Diarrhoea, Scarlatina,
and Measles owe their origin to causes strictly personal and local; and
are, therefore, to be combated and prevented by minute attention to
personal and local hygiene. No one, now, advocates the Thames-theory
of the causation of disease. The soundness of the views urged by me in
reports of the Vestry in 1856 and 1857, a period when the Thamestheory
was universally believed in, is now no longer contested. The
completion of the Main Drainage will no doubt improve the condition of
the River. The attainment of this object is very desirable in itself. The
projected embankment, by removing the mud-banks and regulating the
stream, will effect another important improvement. But that the health
of the town will be in any appreciable degree ameliorated by this gigantic
and costly work, I do not believe. For this amelioration we must, still
look to the steady application of local sanitary measures.
69 deaths are ascribed to Violence. The greater number of these
deaths were the subjects of coroner's inquests. Many refer to infants
suffocated in bed, often, no doubt, accidentally, in consequence of the
prevalent error that infants do not require the same free access of air to
the lungs, whilst asleep, as grown-up persons. Acting on this prejudice,
infants are commonly swaddled up in a shawl, and buried under the
bedding in such a manner that they are compelled to breath the same
air over and over again, until they are entirely poisoned and asphysiated.
Sickness Returns.—In Table III. are set forth the returns of the new
cases of sickness coming under the care of the Poor Law Surgeons
during the year. It appears that there were 17 cases of Small-Pox; 219
of Measles; 113 of Scarlatina; 325 of Diarrhoea; and 921 of Fever.
The total number of cases of all kinds was 6145.
Small-Pox and Vaccination.—The small number of deaths from SmallPox
during the year 1862 wculd scarcely appear to call for extended
observations upon this subject. But the rapid spread of Small-Pox in
an epidemic form throughout Shoreditch, in common with the Metropolis
at large, forms, during the present year, a striking commentary upon the
following passage extracted from my report for the year 1861.—"The
cases of death from Small-Pox were 12. In 1859 the number was 87;