Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Reports ...
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this result. Thus, in the week ending March 3rd we had 2 deaths
from Small Pox, in the succeeding week we had none, in the week
following there was 1, and in the last week we were again exempt.
In the first week of the period, of which we are now speaking,
the increased mortality for the Metropolis amounted to 115,
or to about 12½ per cent, beyond the corrected average of deaths; —
with us the deaths were 26, the corrected average being 26-4°, —thus
we did not contribute towards the 115, this excess was made up by
23 of the Metropolitan districts out of the 36. The other 13 stood
at about, and below the usual mortality. The week following, that
ending March 10th, the weather was inclement, and yet the excess
of mortality fell to 32, for the Metropolis at large, but the effect of
this inclemency was felt in the week succeeding. Our deaths for
the week ending March 10th were 25, the corrected average being
27-5°.
During the week, ending March 17th, Influenza, Bronchitis, and
Chest affections prevailed throughout London. The deaths were
201 in excess of the average, our mortality rose to 30, the corrected
average being within a fraction of 23. We had 1 death from Small
Pox, 1 from Measles, 1 Scarlatina, and 1 Whooping Cough. 13
died from affections of the chest and lungs, and the others from
organic diseases. The highest temperature during the week, was on
Friday, when the thermometer marked 90° in the sun, and the
lowest was the day previous, Thursday, when the temperature was at
the remarkable low degree of 22°. The effects of this extreme range
of temperature are most strikingly marked by the mortality in the
week ending March 24th, when the excess of deaths for the Metropolis
rose to the high amount of 244; the deaths from Bronchitis
alone being 135 in excess of the corrected average. Our deaths were
28, the corrected average being a fraction beyond 25.—Of these 4
were from Whooping Cough and 1 from Diptheria.
It thus appears that the excess of deaths in Bermondsey during
these four weeks, which have been so trying upon the human
constitution throughout the Metropolis, has been but 7. The
total excess being 592, or about 1 to 3990 of the population, and
an increase of 10 per cent, in the mortality. The increase in our
deaths was at the rate of 7½ per cent., or 1 in 6875 of the entire
population. These facts tend to confirm the opinion I entertain,
and which I have before expressed, that the situation of Bermondsey
is very favorable to the preservation of health during inclement
weather, and especially during the prevalence of E. and N.E. winds.
However, the period is now approaching when diseases of a dif-