“Of the 15,597 persons who died within your jurisdiction in the five years 1847–8 to 1852–3, nearly three-eighths died in the first five years of life.”
To his employers he mostly appeals. He hopes that the statements in his reports may suffice to convince them of the necessity which exists in the “City” of London for some effectual and permanent sanitary organisation.
“For the metropolis generally there is hitherto no sanitary law such as you possess for your territory.”
He pointed out that—
“Inspection of the most constant, most searching, most intelligent, and most trustworthy kind is that in which the provisional management of our said affairs must essentially consist.
“The committee was given power by the Act for the amendment or removal of houses presenting aggravated structural faults.
“Wherever your Medical Officer of Health may certify to you that any house or building is permanently unwholesome and unfit for human habitation, you are empowered to require of the owner (or in his neglect yourselves to undertake) the execution of whatever works may be requisite for rendering the house habitable with security to life.”
And he urged that:—
“The principle might be distinctly recognised that the City will not tolerate within its municipal jurisdiction the continuance of houses absolutely incompatible with healthy habitation.