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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77
hourhood for some distance, has occurred from the emptying cesspools and privies and
throwing their contents upon the ground, and more especially dangerous as it was done
whilst scarlet fever was endemic. This was put a stop to by the Police, and the parties
implicated having been summoned before a magistrate, were fined 10s. each.
The drainage along the line of ditch from Westwood House is only partially completed,
and where incomplete is very offensive.
The gullies opposite the Police Station, and Round Hill Villa, are very offensive, and
require trapping.
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. | Mean of Lowest. daily-readings. | ||||||
| Aug. 1. | 29.870 | 83° 4 | 49°5 | 65° 6 | S. W. | 1 | 0.60 |
| 8. | 29.704 | 88 0 | 52 4 | 65 2 | S. W. | 4 | 0.85 |
| 15. | 29.793 | 88 6 | 50 5 | 63 7 | S. W. | 1.52 | |
| 22. | 29.887 | 83 0 | 51 7 | 65 1 | N. E. | 2 | 0.32 |
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
Sydenham, 27th August, 1857.
| DISTRICTS. | Males. | BIRTHS. | Males. | DEATHS. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Females. | Total. | Females. | Total. | |||
| Blackheath | ||||||
| Lewisham | ||||||
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | |||
| Sydenham | ||||||
| N. S. Industrial School | — | — | — | _— | ||
| Penge | 9 | |||||
| Total | ||||||
Gentlemen,
During the month from 22nd August to 19th September, 53 births and 47 deaths have
been registered. The returns of mortality are considerably increased by the addition of
the Coroner's return of inquests upon 11 of the sufferers from the railway collision at the
Lewisham Station, on 28th June last. Deducting these, 36 remain, the same number
as registered during the corresponding month of last year; therefore, calculating for increase
of population, showing a diminished rate of mortality. 18 deaths are recorded
amongst children under one year of age.
Amongst adults, six deaths have occurred in those from 50 to 70 years of age, and seven
in those from 70 to 95.
* Inquests, 28th of June.