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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13
Owing to the great quantity of rain which has fallen, the atmosphere has been in an
extremely damp state, its greatest point of saturation having been reachcd upon Saturday,
16th. Mumps, a disease dependant apparently upon a moist atmosphere for its development,
has been prevalent in the district.
The drainage of the marshy land at the back of the Anerly School has been attended
to, but not satisfactorily completed.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.
MRTEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| 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 | |||||
| J une 2 | 29.578 | 66°3 | 38°8 | 51°3 | Variable. | 4 | 1.53 |
| 9 | 29.618 | 64.3 | 43.5 | 51.9 | S.W. | 6 | 1.59 |
| 16 | 29.533 | 67.0 | 43.6 | 53.9 | S.W. | 3 | 0.57 |
| 23 | 29.647 | 71.0 | 46.6 | 56.6 | S.W. | 5 | 1.54 |
JULY.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 4 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Lewisham | 6 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Union Workhouse | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Sydenham | 11 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Penge | 5 | 4 | 9 | - | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 26 | 26 | 52 | 9 | 9 | 18 |
Gentlemen,
During the month ending upon the 21st of July, fifty-two births and eighteen deaths
have been registered.
The health of the district, as thus evidenced by the returns of mortality, has a very
favourable aspect, the deaths are considerably below the average for the month; and
from other reliable sources of information, I am happy to communicate the fact that the
district is very healthy at the present time.
One death only has taken place from epidemic disease during the month, namely—
Female, 1 year, measles, Penge.
Several cases of smallpox have been reported to me in the district; some have occurred
in Russell Street, Sydenham, and others in Loampit Vale, Lewisham; two cases have
also been admitted to the Union Workhouse, but the disease has not spread.
No vehicle has yet been provided for the conveyance of persons affected with infectious
diseases of this kind; the street cabs are therefore still in use in this district, and must
thus endanger the public health, and tend to the spread of disease.
I find, upon enquiry, that the Hospital for Smallpox at Holloway is full, and that
cases of this disease are not now admitted at many of the London hospitals.
An accumulation of offensive drainage still exists at Anerly.
A house occupied by Mr. Haughton, Stanstead Lane, and others, is not drained into
the sewer.
Many of the houses at Loampit Yale are not yet supplied with water.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.