Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Fortieth annual report of the proceedings of the Vestry of the Parish of St. Mary, Newington, London...
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That in future the Medical Officer of Health's Report, which is required
for statistical purposes by the London County Council early in the
year, be printed separately and sent to the Council within two months
from the time it falls due; and that it be afterwards added to and
included in the Vestry's Annual Report as heretofore. (24th July 1895.)
That inasmuch as responsibility for the Vestry's undertakings attaches to
each member of the Vestry, a card of membership be given to each
Vestryman, on the production of which he will be entitled to enter or
inspect any place belonging to or work being carried on by the Vestry.
(2nd October 1895.)
That after one month's notice, every sun blind of less height than 7 feet
from the pavement level, and every side blind exceeding in width
1 foot 6 inches from the shop fascia, be deemed an obstruction under
section 119 of the Metropolis Local Management Act, 1855. (2nd
October 1895.)
That any workman of the Vestry found using the Depot tools upon jobs
other than Vestry work be instantly discharged. (30th October 1895.)
Questions in Vestry.—The following is a list of all questions
which, after due notice, were put and answered in Vestry
during the year under report:—
1895.
April 3. Mr. Newman to the Medical Officer of Health:—
Q. Has your attention been drawn to a statement in the Echo of Tuesday
last supplied by Mr. H. R. G. Gogay, to the effect that the death
rate of Newington for the previous week was 52 per thousand -12
per thousand higher than any other South London parish ?
A. On Wednesday (the 20th) I reported that the death rate for Newington
during the fortnight ending March 9th was 52 per thousand, and
that the death rate for the whole of London for the same two weeks
was 39.8 per thousand.
The death rate for the South London parishes is not yet known, and
therefore it is impossible for Mr. Gogay to make the comparison he
does correctly. He is confusing the death rate of London as a whole
with that of the South London parishes. Newington has suffered
severely from the late cold weather and the influenza.
In the fortnight referred to 22 deaths arose from influenza, 78 from
bronchitis, 34 from pneumonia and 21 from phthisis, making in all
155 deaths from inflammatory diseases of the lungs, out of a total of
239 deaths.
The struggle for existence is very severe in the parish, and it is no
figure of speech to say that the majority of the people in the parish,
when they die, do so literally in harness.
Our annual reports show that a fourth part of those who die of our
parishioners do so away from home, in a hospital outside the
boundaries of our parish.