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
Westminster 1893
Annual report on the sanitary condition of the Parishes of St. Margaret & St. John, Westminster ending December, 1893.
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The following deaths occurred at the undermentioned places, viz.:—
| Hospitals. | Barracks. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster | 255 | Hyde Park | 5 |
| Station | 15 | Wellington | 2 |
| Convent | 14 | Knightsbridge | 1 |
| Grosvenor | 4 | ||
| Wellington House | 4 | ||
| Victoria House | 4 | ||
| Grenadiers | 2 | ||
| Almshouses | 7 | ||
| 305 | 8 | ||
The following is the table of deaths occurring in the district during the past three years:—
| 1891. | 1892. | 1893. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pox | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Measles | 39 | 73 | 3 |
| Scarlet Fever | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Whooping Cough | 22 | 19 | 15 |
| Diarrhœa | 43 | 33 | 49 |
| Dysentery | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cholera | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Fever | 10 | 2 | 9 |
| 114 | 129 | 84 |
The above table shows a decrease in reference to the previous
year of 45 deaths from zymotic causes, which is eminently satisfactory
considering the severe outbreaks of measles, scarlet fever,
and diphtheria, which have taken place during the year.
The vigilant and strict measures that were taken during the
threatened epidemic of cholera in July, August, and September,
1892, were again enforced in 1893, with the result that the
single death which occurred was shown to be rather the effect of
some food of which the patient had partaken, and not due to any
of the surrounding circumstances.
It is impossible to too highly estimate the great benefit that
follows the compulsory notification of disease, and it is mainly
owing to the promptitude of the medical gentlemen in reporting
cases, and the immediate attention given by the inspectors to the
reports, and, whenever possible, removing the patients to the
hospitals, that so few deaths in comparison with the number of
cases have occurred from zymotic causes.
The following table is a copy of the tabular returns of deaths,
taking each parish separately, in accordance with the form
prescribed by the Local Government Board:—