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
Wandsworth 1864
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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The following Table exhibits the deaths which resulted from the principal epidemic diseases during the past and eight preceding years, and the relation which they bore to the deaths from all causes.
| YEARS. | Small Pox | Measles. | Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Whooping Cough. | Diarrhœa. | Fever— Typhus and Typhoid. | Total Deaths from Epidemics. | Total Deaths from all causes. | Per cent. age of deaths from Epidemics to deaths from all causes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1856 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 314 | 13.6 |
| 1857 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 29 | 248 | 11.2 |
| 1858 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 289 | 7.6 |
| 1859 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 311 | 19.2 |
| 1860 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 308 | 7.1 |
| 1861 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 246 | 12.1 |
| 1862 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 62 | 273 | 22.7 |
| 1863 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 62 | 300 | 20.6 |
| 1864 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 43 | 311 | 13.8 |
It is seen from the foregoing Table that the mortality
which resulted from epidemic diseases was but slightly
greater than the average of the past 8 years, while the
proportion which it bore to the mortality from all causes
was somewhat less than the average. The greatest number
of deaths from these diseases occurred during the second
quarter of the year, when 22 were registered; 9 occurred in
the first quarter, in the third 9, and in the fourth 3; the
largest number occurred in April. Fever and Diarrhoea were,
as usual, present during the whole year. The former was
fatal in February, April, May, June, August, September
and October, the latter in February and June, but, as usual,
principally in August and September. Whooping Cough
prevailed during the first six months, and in December, and
was fatal in those months. Scarlet Fever prevailed and
was attended with fatality, in April, August and November.
The deaths from Diphtheria occurred in the summer quarter.
Small-pox was present during the first six months, except
in January, and November, and was fatal in February and
April. There was an almost entire absence of Measles.
There was no prevalence of any special epidemic during the
past year, but Fever, which was greatly on the increase