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June 21st, 1880.
During the fortnight that ended on the 12th day of
June, 59 deaths and 161 births were registered in Bermondsey.
These numbers are equivalent to an annual birth rate of 41·9, and
to an annual rate of mortality of 15·3 per 1000 of the estimated
population. The death rate in London during the same period was
18.5.
From the principal diseases of the zymotic class there were 8
deaths, viz:—3 from scarlet fever, 3 from whooping cough, 1 from
enteric fever, and 1 from diarrhœa.
Diseases of the organs of respiration caused 10 deaths, viz:-
bronchitis 8, pneumonia 1, and croup 1.
Fourteen deaths were referred to tubercular diseases, viz:-7
to consumption, 4 to meningitis, and 3 to tabes.
The deaths which occurred at various periods of life were 15
under one year, 16 between one and five years, 17 between five and
sixty years, and 11 above sixty years of age.
Six Inquests were held. The causes of death were 2 natural,
(both from fits) 3 accidental, 1 by drowning, 1 by scald, and 1
killed by a horse in the street, and 1 was attributed to excessive
drinking.
I have again visited Messrs. Young & Co.'s premises and found
them in a much cleaner condition.
An accumulation of dust and rubbish on a vacant piece of
ground in Major Road has been removed. It has been asserted that
a nuisance arises from putrid pork which was buried in this ground
about two years ago, at a depth of several feet. I have found no
evidence of any nuisance from this cause.
The Inspector called my attention to offensive smells on the
adjoining premises occupied by Mr. Saunders, The trap over the
drain in the yard was taken up instead of being kept in its place
and kept filled with water. This I was informed had been done
from ignorance of the use of the trap.
Some time ago I had occasion to state certain facts bearing on
the subject of the non-removal of infectious cases in the early stages
of the disease. Those facts, upon which I placed no interpretation
have been regarded by some highly respectable medical men as a
personal imputation. As no such idea was present in my mind, I