London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1859

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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table, which exhibits the comparative mortality resulting from epidemic
diseases during 1859, in oppositely conditioned localities of the parish.

The localities indicated in this table have been especially noted for the information and guidance of the Surveyor.

LocalitiesSmall PoxMeaslesScarlet FeverHooping CoughDiarrhœaFever, Typhus, and TyphoidTotals
Well drained, and in a fair sanitary condition...311117
Badly drained, or without Sewers, and admitting of further sanitary improvements...6134519
Totals...9245626

It will be observed that no deaths from Small Pox are recorded in this
table. Within my own knowledge no case of the disease, (if we except one
of a mild character, known to have been imported by the gipsies,*) came under
treatment either in public or private practice in 1859. Happily, this
entire freedom from the disease has been noted in this parish for several
years past; but I regret to state that within the last two months two or
three cases have come under my notice in adults, who were, it was found,
unprotected by vaccination.
But it is not entirely for the purpose of showing the immunity enjoyed by
this parish from Small Pox, that this table is inserted—read in conjunction
with Table VI. in the Appendix, it clearly exhibits the fact, that although
much has been, and continues to be, done in the way of sanitary improvement
by drainage, water supply, abolition of cesspools, and remoral of
nuisances in the crowded localities, there yet remains something to ???ccom-
* The following paragraph is from the Lancet of June 2nd, 1860, and is here inserted
to show that the proposal which emanated from this parish, to obtain legal
powers to remove gipsies and others encamping on the commons and open spaces
within the metropolitan area, is exciting some attention in influential quarters.
" Small Pox propagated by Gipsies.—A memorial has been presented to the
Metropolitan Board of Works by inhabitants of Putney, stating that the commons
have for some time past been infested by swarms of gipsies, tramps, and hawkers, who
live in tents and caravans. There is no existing law, say the memorialists, whih
brings such persons not occupying ordinary places of abode, under the sanitary regulations
of the Metropolis Local Management Act and the Nuisances Removal Act, and
hence epidemic diseases are liable to be fostered and spread by these vagrant and
lawless people. It is alleged that Small Pox has recently been so introduced in the
parish of Putney, and that the most earnest solicitations of the Medical Officer of
Health have been of little avail in inducing these tramps to allow their children to be
vaccinated. It is obvious that to obtain the most complete security against Small
Pox no portion of the community should be suffered to withdraw itself from the
operation of those hygienic laws which are instituted for the common welfare. The
source of infection pointed out by the inhabitants of Putney is certainly one that
demands a remedy."