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

Hanover Square 1869

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hanover Square, The Vestry of the Parish of Saint George]

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15
your letter of the 16th inst., that the present condition of
the Serpentine, and the best means of making and keeping
it pure and safe, are now under consideration ; but that it is
not intended to undertake any operations of magnitudo until
P arliament shall have voted the necessary supplies.
I am, Sir,
Your obedt. servt.,
George Russell,
Asst. Secretary.
C. J. B. Aldis, Esq., M.D.
During further inquiries, I also received, through the
kindness of Dr. Christian, Surgeon to the Royal Humane
Society, Mr. Lambton Young, Secretary, and Mr. H.
Williams, Superintendent, some elaborate and interesting
statistics in a communication dated 30th October, 1868,
which I have much condensed, as follows :—

Table: Statement, showing the number of Accidents and, Deaths from Bathing and cases of Suicide which have occurred in the Serpentine during20years, from1844to1864—

Statement, showing the number of Accidents and, Deaths from Bathing and cases of Suicide which have occurred in the Serpentine during20years, from1844to1864—

Total number of Bathers rescued 119Bathers drowned 24
„ „ Suicides „ 120Suicides „ 120
„ „ „ prevented 43
„ „ of Lives saved 358Total Lives lost 144

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Note.—The cases under the head of " Rescued and
Landed" are those bathers who have been seized with
cramp, or become powerless from exhaustion, in attempting
to swim across the Serpentine, and must inevitably have
been drowned but for the watchfulness and promptitude of
the Royal Humane Society's boatmen.
The cases under the head of " Brought to the Receiving