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REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF SAINT PANCRAS, MIDDLESEX,
DURING JANUARY, 1858.
by
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for the Parish of Saint Pancras.
Febkuahy 9th, 1858.
No. 22.
TO THE SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen,
There were registered in this Parish during the five weeks that ended
on the 30th of January 470 deaths, being at the rate of 94 in each week, which
was exactly the weekly average recorded in last month's Report.
January is usually a month in which the mortality is high, chiefly from an
excess in the diseases of the chest amongst old people. The late month has had
a mortality above what is customary even in January. The average of the
corresponding period in the 10 immediately preceding years was 420, which, for
comparison, must bo raised 10 per cent, to allow for the increase in population,
thus making 462 instead of 470.
Diseases of respiration have been fatal to 116 persons, of whom 35 have been
under 5 years of age, and 48 above 60 yearB. Tubercular disease has been fatal
in 80 cases. Diseases of the heart have been unusually fatal, namely to 23
persons. There have been 29 deaths from old age. Amongst zymotic diseases,
hooping cough has been fatal to the largest number (24), scarlatina to 14,
measles to 17 (of whom 6 have been in the Workhouse), typhus or typhoid
fevers to 6, diarrhœa to 3, small pox to 2 (both unvaccinated as usual).
Of the cases of small pox, one occurred in Draper's Place, and the other, which
occurred in Somers Town, was communicated from the same place. I have also
received information that the infection was conveyed from here to St. Marylebone
Parish and proved fatal. There have been a great number of cases of small pox
in this crowded place, but only one has proved fatal, owing probably to the prevalence
of vaccination. But, as I have stated, the infection has been conveycd to
other parts, and there occasioned the deaths of several. Of the cases registered
under the head of scarlatina, one was a case of Diphtlierite, a disease of the throat,
the chief character of which is the production of a plastic material in the form of
layers, which has a great tendency to extend to the air passages. It has been of
late very prevalent and very fatal in some parts of this country, but I have heard
of a few cases only, and these not very fatal in this parish. In France it has
been long well known as a not very uncommon disease, occurring usually under
bad hygienic conditions and propagated by infection.
Meteoboloqy.—The mean temperature of the month has been 37°7 which is
1° above the average of 43 previous years. The highest temperature was 51°.9
on the 9th; the lowest was 20°9 on the 6th.