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

St Pancras 1881

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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Table: I have arranged the accompanying Table with a view to showing the number of deaths from small pox in the different sub-districts, and their proportion to population, and it will be seen that the district of Kentish Town had a larger number of deaths from small pox in proportion to population than either Somers Town or Tottenham Court Road, and these again than the remaining sub-districts.

I have arranged the accompanying Table with a view to showing the number of deaths from small pox in the different sub-districts, and their proportion to population, and it will be seen that the district of Kentish Town had a larger number of deaths from small pox in proportion to population than either Somers Town or Tottenham Court Road, and these again than the remaining sub-districts.

Total Deaths.Per 10,000 of Population.
Regent's Park102.5
Tottenham Court Road98.2
Gray's Inn Road72.8
Somers Town144.0
Camden Town52.8
Kentish Town384.8

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It is not my intention to enter into a discussion of the
question whether a Small Pox Hospital is a source of danger
to the neighbourhood in which it is placed. The Royal
Commission on Hospital Provision for Infectious Diseases
will shortly present a Report on this subject; but I would
point out that Table VIII., which shows the number of cases
of small pox reported to the Sanitary Department, must not
be altogether trusted as giving accurate evidence of the
distribution of cases of this disease. It shows that the
Kentish Town Sub-District, on the borders of which the
Highgate Small Pox Hospital is situated had less small pox
than two other Sub-Districts. The death register, which is
more reliable, places Kentish Town first, on the list in this
respect. But it would not do to assume that the Hospital is
responsible in any degree for this prevalence without further
evidence.
Vaccination.
I am indebted to the Vaccination Officers for the accompanying
tables (ix. & x.) for the twelve months ending June, 1881,
which show the number of children born, the number of those
who are vaccinated, and the number of cases included under the
headings— "Removed to places unknown or which cannot be
reached," and " cases not having been found." It will be seen
that the number of children who have thus escaped vaccination
amounts to 6.1 per cent. of the total births, this is an
improvement on the previous year when the number was 7.1
per cent.