199 
where they have been thoroughly carried out they have 
had a distinct effect, either in directly diminishing the 
death-rate or in counteracting a tendency to increased dis- 
ease and death. 
The Registrar-General in his last report gives a few ex- 
amples of places in which there seems to have been a direct 
connection between sanitary improvements and diminished 
rates of mortality. His list is as follows ; but the time at 
my disposal does not permit me to append his remarks as 
to the kind of works executed at each place : — 
Name of- District. 
County. 
Population, 
Average Annual Mortality 
1861. 
1871. 
1841-50. 
1851-60, 
1861-70. 
North Witchford 
Cambridge. . 
14,791 
15,585 
27 
21 
20 
Whittlesey 
iy ... 
6,966 
7,002 
25 
23 
21 
Wisbeach 
yy ... 
33,309 
34,209 
25 
22 
20 
Ossett 
Essex 
11,595 
13,172 
24 
21 
18 
Sahsbury 
Wilts 
9,039 
9,212 
28 
24 
20 
Stoke Damerel... 
Devon 
50,440 
49,449 
26 
23 
21 
W olverhampton. . 
Stafford . . . 
126,902 
136,053 
27 
28 
24 
Coventry 
Warwick ... 
41,647 
40,113 
27 
25 
21 
Macclesfield 
Chester 
61,543 
59,339 
26 
25 
23 
Hull 
York 
56,888 
68,316 
31 
25 
26 
Newport 
Monmouth. . 
51,412 
61,252 
24 
22 
21 
Merthyr Tydfil... 
Glamorgan.. 
93,008 
104,239 
28 
29 
25 
Crickhowell 
Brecknock .. 
22,457 
20,147 
27 
25 
23 
But it may be said that of late some form of sanitary 
administration has been at work all over the country, why 
then have recourse to detached examples The reply is 
sufficiently simple, that this universal sanitation has certainly 
not yet had time to prove its power for good. 
I should be very unwilling to defend the present chaotic, 
inefficient, and extravagant method of carrying on public 
health government : under it the local medical officers have 
no security of office, many are appointed over petty areas 
upon paltry salaries, the aggregate of which would produce 
a good income for well trained men. Most of them have 
had no special training, and none of them have any means 
of proving their capacity by a state qualification — they 
have no well organised system for obtaining immediate 
