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October 5th, 1885.
During the fortnight that ended on the 26th day of
September, 141 births and 43 deaths were registered in the
parish. These numbers are equal to an annual birth rate of
41.0, and an annual rate of mortality of 12.5 per thousand of
the estimated population. The corresponding death rate in
London was 14.7, and the mean death-rate in 28 great towns
was 16.5. In the last week of this period, the London death
rate declined to 13.8, which was considerably lower than the
rate recorded in any week since the first publication of
the Registrar General's Weekly Returns. The Bermondsey
death rate for the same week was 10.5.
Only 5 deaths were recorded from zymotic diseases during
the fortnight, and these were very equitably distributed,
there being one death from each of the following causes.:—
Measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough, enteric fever, and
diarrhœa.
Diseases of the respiratory organs caused 8 deaths, and
those of the tubercular class the same number.
The letter from the Metropolitan Asylums Board of the
16th of September, incloses a report of the General Purposes
Committee of that Board, dated the 29th of August, and also a
copy of Mr. Shirley Murphy's Report to the Sub-Committee re
Cholera, bearing date August 18th, 1885. The object of the
communication is to inform the Vestry of the extent of hospital
accommodation, which the managers, in the event of the
Local Government Board issuing an order under the Diseases
Prevention Act of 1885, will be enabled to provide in the
Metropolis for persons suffering from cholera. The managers
are able to provide, in round numbers, hospital accommodation
to the extent of some 1700 or 1800 beds. This is by
no means evenly distributed throughout the Metropolis, and
large areas, particularly in the south of London, are
absolutely devoid of any accommodation whatever. The
premises and number of beds probably available for the
treatment of Cholera patients which are situate within a
mile of our parish, are:—Guy's Hospital 50 beds, St. Olave's
Workhouse 50, Rotherhithe Workhouse 50; total 150. In
the list of open spaces, the use of which can be obtained for
Cholera Hospitals, and upon which accommodation for
cases could be provided within about 14 days, includes for
Bermondsey, ground at the South Eastern Railway