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 1860
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
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10
REPORTS OF DR. WILKINSON.
THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
TO
THE BOARD OF WORKS FOR THE LEWISHAM DISTRICT,
FROM APRIL, 1860, TO MARCH, 1861,
inclusive.
APRIL.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 4 | 3 | 7 | - | 3 | 3 |
| Lewisham | 11 | 11 | 22 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
| Union Workhouse | - | - | - | l | 3 | 4 |
| Sydenham | 12 | 6 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| Penge | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 30 | 21 | 51 | 18 | I 23 | 41 |
Gentlemen,
During the four weeks comprised between the 24th of March and the 21st of April,
fifty-one births and forty-one deaths have been registered.
The number of deaths is not above the average for the month (during the last five
years), after calculating for increase in population, but greatly above the number of last
year, when only twenty-nine deaths were registered.
Five deaths have taken place from zymotic disease, namely—
8th April. Measles, Silver Street, Lewisham.
9th „ Fever, Southend.
12th „ Measles, Loampit Hill, Lewisham.
12th „ Diptheria, Rushey Green, Lewisham.
16th ,, Measles, Brockley.
Five deaths have taken place from phthisis, tubcrcular disease of the lungs.
Six have taken place from inflammation of the air passages.
The cold and variable weather has prejudicially affected the very young and the very
old, thus—
Seventeen infants have died under 4 years of age.
Eight persons have died above the age of 70 and 80 years.
The month has not been a healthy one, a great deal of sickness having prevailed in a
greater or less degree.
Three cases of smallpox have occurred in Loate's Pits, Blackheath.
A few cases of scarlet fever have occurred.
Measles and hooping cough are very prevalent throughout the district.
Fever still exists at Southend, though modified in degree. A case of the same kind of
fever brought from Southend also lies at Bell Green.
I wish to remind you that the offensive smell from the drainage of two houses running
into the ditch bounding the North Surrey School is unabated; also that the state of the
roads at the back of the Foresters' Inn and West Kent Park is still dangerous to passengers,
and injurious to the health of the inhabitants.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality arc appended as usual.