The _Lancet_ of January, 1887, stated that, measured by its recorded death-rate, London was healthier in 1887 than in any year on record. In the Strand in 1886:-- "The efforts that have been made by the Board and its officers have resulted in a marked and continuous improvement in the sanitary state of the district." In St. Pancras in 1888 the death-rate was "by far the lowest yet recorded." In Bermondsey, in the same year, "so few deaths have not occurred since 1865." These and similar reports from other districts showed that sanitary progress was being made. But, unfortunately, in the autumn of 1888 there was an epidemic of measles of exceptional severity, which raised the death-rate. And in 1890 there was a sudden increase from 18·4 per 1,000 to 21·4, a mortality which was higher than any since 1882. The increase served to show the great necessity there was for unceasing watchfulness and for steady perseverance in sanitary work. The forces of disease are ever on the watch for the opportunity to work their evil will, and there were still many weak places in the defences against them. The central government of London had been improved enormously, but the corrective was not extended to where it was most wanted, namely, the local Sanitary Authorities, the Vestries and District Boards. FOOTNOTES: [149] To the then existing population of London. The South Eastern Counties contributed close on 290,000 " South Midland " " " " 249,000 " Eastern " " " " 196,000 " South Western " " " " 168,000 " West Midland " " " " 95,000 [150] The report was made in 1887, but was as true in 1881 as it was in 1887. [151] See Report of Select Committee, 1882, p. v. [152] _Times_, 20th November, 1883. [153] See his speech in Parliament, Hansard, 1884, vol. ccxc., p. 529. [154] Robert Reid (a Surveyor), p. 805. [155] The regulations suggested by the Local Government Board laid down that the landlord or owner should not allow a greater number of persons to occupy a room than would admit of free air space for each of 300 cubic feet--if used exclusively as a sleeping room--or 400 feet if used day and night. He was to-- (1) Keep the drainage in good working order, to properly pave the yard, and provide sufficient sanitary accommodation. (2) Keep the cisterns clean and in proper order, and keep the structure of ashpit in proper order. (3) Cause the ceilings and walls of every room to be whitewashed and papered every April. (4) Provide all requisite means for the ventilation of every room, and of the common passages and staircases thereof. (5) To notify cases of infectious disease. [156] Royal Commission, 1884. [157] Hansard, 1884. [158] 1884 Royal Commission, vol. ii. p. 2938. [159] Ibid. p. 724. [160] Hansard, 1884, vol. cclxxxix. p. 41. [161] Hansard, 1884, vol. ccxc. p. 541.