London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1857
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham District]
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71
The water near the Anerley Station is also stagnant, and from its elevation keeps the
ground below its level in a damp state.
The filthy and offensive drainage through Penge, finding its way into the Poole river
and Ravensbourne, might be alleviated by deodorizing with peat charcoal, changed at
proper intervals.
I have several times before mentioned a filthy ditch at the backs of the houses in Penge
Street. The time of year has almost too far gone now to empty this with safety; but it
might be emptied, the contents being conveyed away in carts, and chloride of lime being
carefully used at the time.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| Week ending. | Weight of air. Barometer corrected. Mean inches. | Temperature of Air. Thermometer. | Prevailing winds. | Rainy days. | Amount of rain in inches. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest. | Lowest. | Mean of daily readings. | |||||
| Apl. 25. | 29.882 | 69° 0 | 28° 2 | 46° 6 | S. W. & N. E. | 2 | 0.32 |
| May 2. | 29.912 | 59 0 | 29 1 | 41 5 | N. E. | 0 | 0.00 |
| 9. | 29.962 | 65 3 | 31 5 | 44 8 | N. E. | 0 | 0.00 |
| 16. | 29.808 | 80 2 | 39 1 | 57 6 | Variable | 2 | 0.08 |
| 23. | 29.706 | 79 0 | 45 0 | 58 9 | S. W. | 2 | 0.35 |
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
Sydenham, 28th May, 1857.
| DISTRICTS. | Males. | BIRTHS Females. | Total. | Males. | DEATHS Females. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackheath | 7 | 4 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Lewisham Village | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| St. George's Infant Poor-house | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Penge | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| N. S. Industrial School . | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sydenham | 6 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 19 | 18 | 37 | 12 | 9 | 21 |
Gentlemen,
The state of the public health, as indicated by the Registrar's returns of mortality,
bears a favourable aspect, 21 deaths having been registered during the month ending
upon the 20th of June, a number below the average, and much below the return of the
corresponding month of last year, when 28 deaths were recorded. Perfect information
as to the health of the district is, however, not to be derived from these sources, as many
diseases may and do exist, which have no fatal termination.
The births of 37 children were registered, against 58 in June, 1856
A death is registered at Montpelier Row, Blackheath, from general debility and
petechial spots. Drainage is urgently required in this locality.