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
Whitechapel 1871
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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16
Owing to the sanitary and other arrangements, the sick-list is exceedingly
small, averaging only one per cent., and out of 400 hoys in a ship of
2,596 tons, where a good deal of hard work in all kinds of weather must he
performed, only two or three cases of catarrh occurred during the last winter,
which, as mav he recollected, was a severe one.
The following are the particulars respecting the physical condition of eighteen of the hoys when admitted, and their condition at the time of my visit.
| WHEN ADMITTED | PRESENT TIME | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Date. | Height. | Weight, | Chest. | Height. | Weight. | Chest. |
| 1870 | ft. in. | lbs. | inches | ft. in. | lbs. | inches. | |
| 1 | October 19th | 4 6 | 73 | 27 | 4 9½ | 90 | 294 |
| 2 | ,, | 4 6½ | 83 | 27 | 4 10 | 94 | 29 |
| 3 | ,, | 4 9 | 77 | 29½ | 4 l1¼ | 89 | 30 |
| 4 | ,, | 4 4 | 60 | 25 | 4 6 | 68 | 26 |
| 5 | ,, | 4 5½ | 74 | 30¼ | 4 81 | 89 | 31 |
| 6 | December 7th | 5 1 | 92 | 27½ | 5 3 | 97 | 29½ |
| 7 | ,, 9th | 4 9 | 78 | 28 | 4 10½ | 86½ | 29½ |
| 8 | ,, 20th | 4 10¼ | 974 | 29 | 5 0½ | 104 | 30½ |
| 9 | ,, | 4 9 | 87 | 29¾ | 4 ll¾ | 91 | 29¾ |
| 1871 | |||||||
| 10 | April 13th | 4 6¾ | 73 | 26 | 4 8 | 75 | 27¾ |
| 11 | ,, | 4 9½ | 87 | 27 | 4 11 | 89 | 28¼ |
| 12* | January 25th | 4 8 | 59 | 27 | 4 11½ | 107 | 31* |
| 13 | ,, | 4 7½ | 71 | 27 | 4 9½ | 86 | 28 |
| 14 | February 2 2nd | 4 9½ | 88 | 27½ | 4 11 | 92 | 29 |
| 15 | ,, | 4 8½ | 83 | 27½ | 4 10¼ | 88 | 27½ |
| 16 | March 1st | 4 4¼ | 75 | 26 | 4 6 | 78 | 27½ |
| -17 | „ 8th | 4 7 | 77 | 28 | 4 8 | 84 | 29 |
| 18 | April 17th | 4 4½ | 75 | 27 | 4 6 | 82 | 28½ |
* Cook's Mate.
In referring to the rapid growth of the boys, the Captain mentions other
instances than those above recorded. Thus, one boy grew two inches in
seven months, and his chest increased in proportion, so much so that he was
enabled to pass the standard required for boys entering the Navy. Another
boy increased in height no less than 2½ inches in eight months, and his chest
also increased in proportion.
Similar remarks will apply to many other of the hoys.
I have the honour to he, Gentlemen",
Your obedient Servant,
15, Great Alie Street. JOHN LIDDLE.