View report page

25
the precincts of the factory. A man has certainly a right to breathe
what gases he pleases within his own walls; but not to poison the
general atmosphere, which is the common property of all men.
Mortality of the Month.
The absolute number of deaths from all causes registered during
the month just elapsed, is thirty-four, and if we deduct from this
number two deaths from drowning, one from accident, two from
congenital debility, or inborn inability to live, and two others upon
which inquests were held, the subjects of both these inquests having
been found dead in bed, it reduces the mortality to twenty-seven,
the lowest monthly death rate hitherto recorded by me. Only one
person above the age of 70 died, a female of 80, from age
and decay. Our register bearing out a statement made by me in a
previous Report, viz.: that the number of deaths among the aged increases
with the fall, and decreases with the rise of the temperature,
and is consequently greater in winter than in summer.
Of the thirty-four deaths, nineteen are of children under five
years. Two have occurred from measles, and one from typhus fever;
the former malady, measles, having been and still continuing rather
prevalent in Rotherhithe.
During the last three months, April, May, and June, death has
carried off one hundred and twenty-six persons.
There have been on the other side of the account two hundred
and eight births; one hundred and sixteen males, and ninety-two
females.
According to the statement of the Registrar, Mr. Pitt, made to
me verbally this morning, Rotherhithe has been during the last
twelve months one of the healthiest, if not the healthiest, parishes
in the metropolis; and for many years it has not been so free from
epidemic diseases as at this present time, a condition of things which
it is to be hoped that the exertions of this Vestry and its officers will
tend to conserve and consolidate.
Yours respectfully,
1st July, 1856. W. MURDOCH.
SEVENTH REPORT.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary, Rotherhithe.
Gentlemen.
My attention having been called to the state of the Kings Mill
Stream, at the part where, after traversing the China Hall Fields in
a south-westerly direction, it turns abruptly to the north-west, running
parallel to the Deptford Lower Road, at the back of Mr.
Miskin's and other premises, I proceeded thither in company with
d