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 1874
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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The next table I have to refer to is the one showing the numbers of deaths due to the seven principal epidemics, or Zymotic diseases, during 1874, and in the preceding ten years, 1864-73:—
| Years. | 1864 | 1865 | 1866 | 1867 | 1868 | 1869 | 1870 | 1871 | 1872 | 1873 | 1874 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small-pox. | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 94 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 12 | 7 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 30 | 11 | 20 |
| Scarlatina. | 11 | 11 | C | 5 | 14 | 29 | 45 | 20 | 6 | 2 | 33 |
| Diphtheria | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Whooping-cough | 10 | 15 | 14 | 7 | 25 | 29 | 9 | 18 | 25 | 14 | 15 |
| Typhus | 14 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
| Diarrhœa & Cholera | 20 | 17 | 21 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 39 | 25 | 27 | |
| Totals ... | 03 | 75 | 86 | 5G | 109 | 117 | 119 | 178 | 128 | 65 | 105 |
The principal point in this table deserving comment is
the fact that no deaths occurred from Small Pox, either
in the past or previous year. This is very satisfactory,
and it is sincerely hoped it is a state of things that will
continue. Of the other principal Zymotic diseases, Measles
and Scarlatina both appear iu considerable excess as to their