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MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT.
TO THE VESTRY OF BERMONDSEY.
October 3rd, 1859.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —September has, with us, this
year passed most favorably, as regards sickness and mortality.
Contrasted with former months of the same period, the results are
striking and in the highest degree satisfactory.
For e xample, in the week ending Sept. 3rd, the deaths are 17, the
average being 39; for the next week 13, the average 45; for the
week following 18, the average being 39; and for the week ending
Sept. 24th. 19, the average being 36. During the whole month but
six fatal cases of diarrhoea occurred, and these were without exception,
with young children and infants.
In the entire absence of any serious Epidemic disease, a most
favorable period presents itself, now that the summer heat has
passed, for pressing forward with vigour our career of sanitary improvement.
My attention has been drawn to Sussex place, Long
lane, by Mr. Richmond, who had lately attended there a case of
Typhus fever. This is a court with six small tenements, and with
back yards, about six feet by five. Two of the tenements have
privies panned and trapped and with water supply, the other four
have open and most offensive cesspools, the atmosphere from which
pervades the dwellings, rendering them most unwholesome. This is
so remarkable, that the inhabitants of No. 3, one of the improved
places, present a much better condition of health than their next
neighbours at No. 2. It was at No. 1, that the fever occurred.