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
Wimbledon 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wimbledon]
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of the water saturating it at some time previously. It is scarcely
necessary to add that the requisite degree of dampness may be produced,
not only from a source below, but from a surface source: for
instance, it may be the result of a previous flood, or of watery matter
habitually soaking in from the surface about houses, or from leakages
of such conduits as sewers and drains."
These conditions were to a very great extent present in Wimbledon at the end of June, and continued during July, August and September, as will be seen from the following table giving the mean maximum temperatures and deaths in fortnightly periods:—
| Mean Temperature for Fortnight. | Number of Deaths in Fortnight. | |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnight ending July 9 | 59 | 2 |
| „ „ „ 23 | 62 | 0 |
| „ „ Aug. 6 | 64 | 5 |
| „ „ „ 20 | 63 | 16 |
| „ „ Sept. 3 | 61 | 8 |
| „ „ „ 17 | 59 | 2 |
| „ „ Oct. 1 | 57 | 1 |
| 56 | 0 |
The larger proportion of deaths, 24, took place in that portion of
the District bounded by the railway (Tooting and Wimbledon branch),
the River Wandle, High Street, Merton and Haydon's Road, where
the soil is by reason of the nearness of the ground water in a constant
state of dampness; and where many of the houses are particularly
liable to the access of ground air and moisture, having been built
before the bye-laws requiring the provision of a cement concrete
covering of the site were in force.
It is interesting to note that not one fatal case occurred in the
newer streets in the same neighbourhood or the adjoining ones,
which are practically at the same level or very little higher, but
where the sites of the houses are concreted. At the same time there
are other factors which cannot be ignored, as social position, method
of feeding (whether maternal or hand-fed) and domestic dirtiness
and fustiness, etc.