“In 1850, out of 1,169 deaths 565 (or one half) were under 5 years.
“In Bermondsey, 506 out of 983.
“Our parish and Bermondsey are quite ahead (of others) in this unenviable race towards death.”
“The contents of our sewers can only be discharged 4 hours each tide—8 hours each day—the remaining 16 hours daily they are reservoirs of stagnant sewage.”
“We are sadly deficient in sewers. At least 100 courts, alleys, and back streets are entirely without drainage…. Some of our sewers have remarkably little incline. That in Friar Street, a most important one, is so level from Bean Street to Suffolk Street that it has a most curious quality for a sewer, that of flowing either way equally well.
“One very prevalent evil is loose brick drains which let the deadly gases into houses.”
“… We are a most melancholy parish, low in level and low in circumstances. The lowest and poorest of the human race drop from higher and richer parishes into our courts and alleys, and the liquid filth of higher places finds its way down to us. We receive the refuse as well as the outcomings of more happily situated places.”
His report for 1857 continued his description:—
“We lose annually 30 per 1,000—there are only two parishes worse than we are. Some at least of this mortality is preventable. If we could keep to the average of all London we should lose 300 less a year; or even to that of Bethnal Green we should lose 200 less.