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13
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.
alarming degree in the prevailing fever, neither has any great amount of general
illness added to the ordinary necessities of our poor. Our working classes
have not been subject to any dire calamity,, and though individual instances of
want of employment might here and there have been manifested, it is doubtful
whether individual energy and determination in self dependence, might not in
most instances have issued in success. As Typhus and the lower forms of
Fever, with Cholera. &c., have hitherto been made questions lor national
enquiry, so now does Scarlet Fever require some special investigation.
The Registrar General's returns for 1868 show that no less than 2921
lives have been sacrificed to this disease within the Metropolitan districts, that
2483 persons died of other forms of Fever, 2369 from Whooping Cough, and
1989 from Measles. In connection wiih this subject it may not be out of place
to remind you of the necessity for providing a public ambulance for the conveyance
of patients affected by infectious diseases either to Hospitals or to and
from private houses; at present the public vehicles continue to be used for this
purpose, and though partially prohibited by statute they still form the only
available means. To what extent infectious disease is thus increased it is impossible
to calculate.
Diarrhoea, in accordance with what has occurred elsewhere, was unusually
fatal, and this is not surprising when we take into account the excessive
heat and drought of the summer months; 102 deaths have been registered from
this cause within the Fulham District. Fevers, however, have not presented any
special increase: on the contrary, the number of deaths from the various forms of
this complaint excepting Scarlatina, have been only 23. Diptheria has caused
8 deaths, Whooping Cough 30, Cholera 3, and Carbuncle 2.
The deaths from Phthisis have been below the usual number, probably
the result of a high temperature, and of less than usual subsoil moisture. The
number of deaths registered from this disease has been 140.
In the Workhouse 58 persons have died, and in Almshouses 3, in
Roman Catholic Institutions 28, in Lunatic Asylums 3, and in the West London
Hospital 18; 69 inquests have been held, many of which were in cases of deaths
from drowning in the Thames.
No deaths from Small Pox has been registered during the year 1868.
The total Mortality of the Fulham District in 1868 has been 1338, of
which Hammersmith has contributed 803, and Fulham 535. Of these deaths
371 occurred in children under 1 year of age, and 650 of the total number under
5 years. Thus again, as in former years, nearly one half of our mortality has
been amongst children who have died before they were 5 years old.
The number of births registered has been 2206.
The deaths of six nonagenarians have been registered in the year.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
FREDK. J. BURGE,
Medical Officer of Health.
Hammersmith,
Aug. 4 th, 1869.