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
Lewisham 1858
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
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between the Crystal Palace property and the Anerley water. This is most offensive and
dangerous to the health of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood adjacent, as well as to
the children occupying the North Surrey School; it is most offensive and prejudicial
when the wind blows in that direction, as well as frequently at other times.
The ditch by the side of the road, and bounding the North Surrey School grounds,
is offensive from sewage being again poured into it. This was remedied at my request
as far as the above-mentioned School lodge was concerned, but is now rendered again
offensive by sewage from above.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.
| Week ending. | Weight of air. Barometer corrected. Mean inches. | Temperature of Air. Thermometer. | Prevailing winds. | Rainy days. | Amount of rain in inches. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest. | Lowest. | Mean of daily readings. | |||||
| Nov. 27 | 29.563 | 58°0 | 20°5 | 37°4 | E. & S.E. | 2 | 0.22 |
| Dec. 4 | 29.476 | 53.8 | 33.5 | 46.3 | S.W. | 6 | 0.39 |
| 11 | 30.115 | 49.2 | 30.3 | 36.5 | Variable | - | 0.00 |
| 18 | 29.867 | 51.0 | 33.5 | 38.9 | Variable | 2 | 0.30 |
| 25 | 29.438 | 53.5 | 34.9 | 44.5 | S.W. | 5 | 0.79 |
I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON,
Medical Officer of Health.
Sydenham, December 30th, 1858.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 6 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Lewisham | 6 | 8 | 14 | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sydenham | 11 | 16 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| Penge | 6 | 4 | 10 | — | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 29 | 31 | 60 | 18 | 21 | 39 |
Gentlemen,
The mortality of the district is a little in excess of the average, 39 deaths having been
registered during the month ending upon the 22nd of January last. This is partly
attributable to the Lewisham Ward, in which the mortality is still greater than usual.
Although the temperature of the atmosphere for the month has been greatly above the
ordinary temperature of January, the damp atmosphere and sudden alteration of temperature
have acted severely upon delicate constitutions; thus 17 deaths have taken place
in children under 5 years of age, and 7 in those above 60, whilst 8 deaths have taken
place from inflammatory affections of the lungs.
Measles and scarlatina have very much declined in severity during the month, and
fewer cases have occurred for the last fortnight.
Influenza continues to be prevalent, but no mortality has occurred from this cause.
Diptheria has occasioned two deaths.