London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1863
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
This page requires JavaScript
9
Street, and the styes are erected within a few feet of the School. The offensive smell
is prejudicial to the health 0f the children, and as 170 pupils are educated there it
becomes important to remedy such a state of things at as early a period as possible. '
Meteorological table and tables of mortality are appended as usual.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| Week ending | Weight of Air. Barometer corrected. Mean inches. | Temperatcre of Air. Thermometer. | Prevailing winds. | Rainy days. | Amount of raiu in inches. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest. | Lowest. | Mean of daily readings. | |||||
| March 28 | 30.172 | 63.7 | 30.5 | 48.0 | S.W.&N.W. | 0 | 0.00 |
| April 4 | 29.914 | 61.0 | 28.3 | 45.3 | Variable. | 2 | 004 |
| 11 | 29.558 | 65.3 | 34.8 | 49.5 | S.W. | 3 | 019 |
| 18 | 29.877 | 67.7 | 36.8 | 50.6 | N.E. | 2 | 002 |
| 25 | 29.985 | 69.3 | 33.6 | 50.2 | N.W. | 1 | 001 |
MAY.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Lewisham | 9 | 9 | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Union Workhouse | - | _ | - | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sydenham | 18 | 15 | 33 | 14 | 5 | 19 |
| Penge | 10 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| North Surrey District School | — | — | — | 1 | l | 2 |
| Watermen's Asylum | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 41 | 33 | 74 | 27 | 20 | 47 |
Gentlemen,
During the five weeks ending upon Saturday last, the 25th July, 11 deaths (23 males
and 18 females) have been registered. During the corresponding space of time last
year, 42 deaths were registered. The mortality of the district is considerably below the
average for the last eight years, when taking into consideration the increase of population.
The district is decidedly more free from epidemic disease than it has been for the last
few months ; but cases of smallpox, scarlatina, and measles have affected the health o
persons, and three deaths from epidemic disease arc registered, thus—
Scarlet fever, King Street, Blackheath.
Scarlet fever, Sydenham Hill, Sydenham.
Measles, North Surrey District School, Penge.
Measles still continue endemic at the North Surrey Schools, but only four fresh cases
have occurred during the month. The opthalmia which has aflected the childien at
the above schools has materially diminished in intensity.
The sewage from Laurie Park, thence running in the meadows at the back of Messrs
Batt's, Bcale's, and Dawson's property, has become blocked near the toll gat in Pengelane
lane and requires attention.
Dustbins are required at the back of Mr. Fox's houses in paxton park.
The drainage of this locality requires early attention.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.