London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1874
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
This page requires JavaScript
46
Zymotic Diseases.—These diseases collectively give
an increase of 19 deaths over the previous year. There is
a decrease in Small Pox (none being registered). Measles,
Diphtheria, Typhus, Typhoid, and Infantile Fevers, but
an increase in Croup, Whooping Cough, Fever following
Childbirth, and in Diarrhoea. Of the 134 persons who
succumbed to this class of disease, 103 were under 20 years
of age, 95 of whom were under 5 years, leaving but 31 at
20 years and upwards. The principal fatal diseases were
Diarrhoea, Whooping Cough, Croup and Metria. One
death was registered as Cholera. The preceding table
will show the fatality of each disease, the respective ages
at which death took place, and the social position of the
deceased persons.
The following table contrasts all deaths in West Battersea from Zymotic Disease for the past 3 years.
| 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Measles | 24 | 11 | 8 |
| Scarlatina | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Diphtheria | 15 | 3 | 5 |
| Quinsy | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Croup | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| Whooping Cough | 31 | 24 | 30 |
| Typhus, &c | 13 | 22 | 15 |
| Erysipelas | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Metria, Childbirth | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| Carbuncle | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Influenza | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Diarrhoea and Cholera | 32 | 37 | 43 |
| Totals | 137 | 115 | 137 |
Other causes of death.—Diseases of the Respiratory
Organs, excluding Phthisis, takes the first place with 152
deaths, viz., Bronchitis 83, Pneumonia 46, Laryngitis 3,
Asthma 4, and other Lung diseases 15. The Tubercular
. class resulted in 113 deaths, by Phthisis 67, Tabes
Mesenteric and Atrophy 41, Scrofula 4, and Hydrocephalus
1. Diseases of Brain and Nerves proved fatal
in 111 cases, Heart 35, Uncertain Seat 27, Premature