London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1893
Report on the health and sanitary condition of the several parishes comprised in the Wandsworth District during the year 1893
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203
Inquests
violent Deaths. 65 inquests were held daring the year, 15 more than
in 1S92. These related to the deaths of 42 males and 23 females,
and the following table gives the verdicts:—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Natural Causes | 22 | 12 | 34 | |
| Deaths from Violence, viz.:— | ||||
| Tabes mesenterica and neglect | _ | 1 | 1 | |
| Accidental | Suffocation by overlaying | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Suffocation | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Suffocation, in a Fit | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Drowning | 8 | 1 | 9 | |
| Syncope from Starvation | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Fall on Stair | i | — | 1 | |
| Burns | 2 | — | 2 | |
| Fracture of Skull | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Blood Poisoning | — | 1 | 1 | |
| Suicidal | Hanging | — | 1 | 1 |
| Bun over by Train | 2 | — | 2 | |
| Bullet Wound | 1 | — | 1 | |
| Undetermined. . | — | 2 | 2 | |
| 42 | 23 | 65 | ||
Sanitation. A summary of the sanitary operations for the year is
given at page 25.
The number of houses and premises inspected shows a largo
decrease, 2,319, as compared with 5,450 in 1892. In this regard
I would repeat what your late Medical Officer of Health stated in
his report of last year, that " it forms the disclosure of sanitary
defects the first and necessary step for their abatement. It is idle
to wait for such disclosure from the public generally, who seldom
make complaint, except under the pressure of a nuisance which has
become intolerable, or has already caused sickness or death."
For the abatement of nuisances generally, 1,000 preliminary, and