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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Table: TABLE VI.Total number cf the undermentioned Diseases, recorded in the Books of the Medical Officers of the Union, from 1860 to 1871, and the total cases of illness.

TABLE VI.

Total number cf the undermentioned Diseases, recorded in the Books of the Medical Officers of the Union, from 1860 to 1871, and the total cases of illness.

Year.Small-Pox.Measles.Scarlatina.Hooping-Cough.Diarrhoea and Dysentery.Fever.Cholera & Choleraic-Diarrhœa.Erysipelas.Puerperal Fever.Carbuncle.Bronchitis and Catarrh.Pneumonia and Pleuritis.Croup.Rheumatic Fev.Ague.Delirium Trem.Total Cases.
1860655209383801190152198451413741611392
186186701003881452109...75198031049518213724
18621135251181531106822156...455713591624414270
1863253803051691139464l7416533134122011814564
1864214821562171127295l92167869561413114932
18658651164280134257349721745123...1412415594
186626167919721716643435862...7546244766121316502
1867254155602191471308565156422285183101017181
186893323541441626586880254502083157181017417
186952123113081033385175166322581100351114031
187030225797140111832548201825195013444514148
18716251783210260020125637114915337714510194

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In the Annual Report for the last year, the following note was appended:—
"On perusing the above Table, it will be seen, that the cases of illness among the pauper
population had been annually increasing from 1860 to 1868, and, on referring to my Reports for
the years 1857 and 1858, I find that the cases of illness, which had been attended by the Medical
Officers of the Union, were 10,708 and 11,718 respectively, while in 1856 they were only 9897,
The great annual increase, as is shown in the above returns, cannot be explained on the supposition
that there has been an increase of the population, for the census returns show that the
population of this District, so far from having increased, is less by two or three thousand than it
was in 1857." A remarkable decrease in the number of sick paupers has occurred this year.
The diminution, as compared with the returns of last year, is nearly 4000 ; and if we compare
the returns of the last two quarters with the corresponding quarters of the previous year, the
diminution in the numbers on the sick list is still more remarkable, the numbers being for the
last two quarters of this year 3849, and for the corresponding quarters of the previous year 7108.

Table: TABLE VII.Showing the Births, Deaths, Deaths of Non-residents, Deaths in the London Hospital and in the Workhouse, in each Year, from 1857 to 1871.

TABLE VII.

Showing the Births, Deaths, Deaths of Non-residents, Deaths in the London Hospital and in the Workhouse, in each Year, from 1857 to 1871.

Year.Total Births.Total Deaths.Deaths of Non- residents exclusive of Deaths from Accident.Total Deaths in the London Hospital.Total Deaths in the Workhouse.
1857 (53 weeks)28682350147338272
185827422444140325269
185928262321189354239
186027462302163326282
186126862331179366287
186228132551187330369
1863 (53 weeks)27962764181418324
186428032792212453414
186526842532208416362
186625613495432733413
186726862331241445331
186826112519324536376
1869 (53 weeks)25712675283504328
187026902465374599342
187125712465339551304

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The number of inquests which have been held this year in this District has been 324. In the year
1870 the number was 311.