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 1881
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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The following Table exhibits the Weekly Progress in London of the existing epidemic of Small-pox.
| 1881. Week ending | Deaths. | Number of ration's in the Asylum Hospitals. |
|---|---|---|
| January 8 | 33 | 447 |
| „ 15 | 27 | 476 |
| „ 22 | 42 | 516 |
| „ 29 | 52 | 520 |
| February 5 | 64 | 617 |
| ,, 12 | 52 | 683 |
| „ 19 | 55 | 704 |
| „ 26 | 44 | 752 |
| March 5 | 52 | 779 |
| „ 12 | 58 | 792 |
| „ 19 | 43 | 853 |
| „ 26 | 49 | 820 |
| April 2 | 56 | 890 |
| Total Deaths in London 617 | ||
The deaths in London from small-pox in the corresponding
weeks of 1871 were 2401, and in the same months in the year 1877
they were 1192, while in the year 1881 they were only 617. The
total deaths in London in the year 1871 from small-pox were 7834,
and in the first three months of that year they were 2400, while in
the corresponding weeks of this year they were only 617. In the year
1877 the total deaths from small-pox in London were 2544, and in the
first three months of that year they were 1192. The following is the
plan adopted by the Inspector, with a view to prevent the spreading
of small-pox. Upon visiting houses in which cases of small-pox
occur, inquiries are made as to whether all the children in the immediate
neighbourhood have been vaccinated, and if unvaccinated
children are discovered the parents are advised to get them vaccinated
without delay, and information of all such cases is sent to the Vaccination
Officer. The same plan is adopted in all the private cases of
small-pox that are attended by medical practitioners that come under