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Dr. Frankland reports that during the month of April "The
Southwark and Lambeth Companies sent out water of a very
objectionable quality, containing a very large proportion of organic
matter." I doubt the fairness of taking the water from the chalk
wells of the Kent Company as a standard of comparison for the
quality of organic matter in river water, unless the process is
reversed for the inorganic matter which is largely in excess in the
water from the chalk wells. It is very important that the water
should be re-filtered and kept in a cool place, and also that cisterns
should be covered over, as light and heat favour the development
of organic germs, whether of animal or vegetable origin.
During the 13 weeks ending April 3rd, the number of births
registered in the parish was 902, and the number of deaths 574.
These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of 36.0, and to an
annual death rate of 23.0 per 1000.
The number of deaths from the principal zymotic diseases was
110, viz:—measles 1, scarlet fever 34, diphtheria 2, whooping
cough 63, enteric fever 5, and diarrhœa 5.
June 7th, 1880.
During the fortnight that ended on the 29th day of
May, 131 births and 57 deaths were registered in Bermondsey.
These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of 34·1, and an
annual rate of mortality of 15·4 per 1000 of the estimated living.
The yearly death rate in London during the corresponding period
was 18·7.
From the principal diseases of the zymotic class there were 9
deaths, of which two were referred to scarlet fever, 6 to whooping
cough, and 1 to typhus.
Diseases of the respiratory organs caused 15 deaths, viz:—
bronchitis 9, pneumonia 3, and croup 3.
From tubercular diseases there were 10 deaths, viz:-4 from
phthisis, 5 from meningitis, and 1 from struma.
The other registered causes included diseases of the brain and
nervous system 7, of the kidneys 2, of the stomach 2, of the liver
2, and of the heart 1.
One death, not certified, was registered on the authority of the
coroner's officer as "congestion of the stomach."