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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
Islington 1870
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]
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REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF ST. MARY, ISLINGTON,
FOR APRIL, 1870.
No. CLXXVI.
Although the 343 deaths recorded on our Mortuary Table exceed by
33 the deaths in April last year, it would not appear that they exceed
the deaths which the average of the last ten Aprils corrected for increase
of population would represent. The death rate has been less than that
of March. Scarlet fever remains stationary, neither advancing nor
declining in prevalence or fatality. Measles, however, as was anticipated,
has made a considerable advance, 104 cases having been recorded in the
public practice against 64 in the five weeks of March, and 24 in the
four weeks of February. The mortality at present has been small, only
4 deaths from the disease having been registered during the month.
The weather has been most unusual. The range of temperature from
the lowest to the highest in the shade, has been 51.3 degrees. On the
20th the temperature rose to 80.3, and on the 28th some snow fell. The
drought for the season has been remarkable. From the 27 th of March
to the 30th of April, a period of 5 weeks, rain only fell on 5 days, and
the total amount was less than half an inch.
METEOROLOGY OF APRIL.
| Thermometers 4 feet from ground. | Degree of Atmospheric Humidity, Saturation being represented by 100. | Rain in inches, read at 9 A.M., Collected on the ground. Sum. | Number of days on which Rain feli in appreciable quant ity. Sum. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean of Daily Values. | Mean of Highest Temperatures. | Mean of Lowest Temperatures. | Mean Daily Range of Temp. | ||||
| Week ending Apr. 9th | 45.8° | 60.2° | 35.0° | 25.1° | 70 | 0.12 | 1 |
| „ „ I6th | 50.2° | 62.2° | 41.5° | 20.7° | 67 | 0.09 | 1 |
| „ „ 23rd | 55.8° | 70.2° | 44.4° | 25.8° | 63 | o.oo | 0 |
| „ 30th | 48.8° | 59.1° | 41.5° | 17.5° | 71 | 0.19 | 3 |
| Means. | 50.1° | 62.9° | 40.6° | 22.2° | 67 | Sum. 0.40 | Sum. 5 |
The highest day temperature, observed on April 20th was 80.3°.
The lowest night temperature, observed on April 4th was 29.0°.
Hailstorm with thunder and lightning on April 10th.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
May 8th, 1870.