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
Whitechapel 1896
The annual report on the sanitary condition of the Whitechapel District, (with vital and other statistics), for the year 1896 (consisting of 53 weeks) being the thirteenth annual report
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16
The Deaths were Registered as being due to the following Causes:-
Zymotic Diseases 42
Constitutional Diseases 52
Premature Birth and Old Age 9
Diseases of the Nervous System 30
„ „ Circulatory System 10
„ „ Respiratory „ 80
„ „ Digestive „ 30
„ „ Urinary „ 3
,, „ Integu11mentary System 3
Accidents 5
Other Causes 5
269
During the year 1896 there were altogether 5,223 new orders issued by
the Relieving Officers for the attendance upon the recipients of the orders
of the District Medical Officers. Of this number 3,748 passed at once into
the Infirmary, of these over 67 per cent, belonged either to Registered
Common Lodging-Houses or to one or other of the several Philanthropic
Shelters of the District. Sub-joined is the Table giving the figures
appertaining to the Shelters:-
1896.
| Shelters. | No. of Admission Orders given by the District Medical Officers |
|---|---|
| Salvation Army Shelter for men, 272, Whitechapel road | 213 |
| „ „ women, 194, Hanbury street | 274 |
| ,, ,, men, Quaker street | 65 |
| ,, „ men, Royal Mint street | 61 |
| Church Army Shelter for men, 83, Whitechapel road | - |
| Jewish Shelter, 84, Leman street | 2 |
| Barnardo's Shelter for women, 12 Dock street | 33 |
| ,, „ ,, 81, Commercial street | 21 |
| Tenter Street East Philanthropic Shelter | 33 |
| Wood Street Church Army Home | - |
| Working Lads'Institute, 137, Whitechapel road | - |
| Pelliam House, Spital square | 702 |
Many more applications were made for admission into the Infirmary, but as the cases
were not deemed by the Medical Officers sufficiently grave for hospital treatment, only
workhouse admission orders were offered. In many instances they were not accepted.
And now, Gentlemen, I propose, without further comment, to leave the
many Tables which I have introduced to tell their own story. Taken altogether,
I believe the District to be in a much more satisfactory condition than
it was in when I last reported. We must remember that so much of it
belongs to the far remote, that many houses are very old, and much more
supervision is required than is the case in newer neighbourhoods. The
assistance of the inhabitants themselves must be invoked to bring to our
knowledge nuisances and defects which would otherwise escape detection.
Looking round, however, you will see evidence in new buildings appearing
in exchange for old worn-out property all over the District, that improvements
are being effected, and I would remind you that many more very
important works have been carried out within the houses which can only be
discovered by a general improvement in the sickness-rate and in the deathrate.
In relation to much of our work, I have frequently to ask the advice
and assistance of my colleagues, Messrs. Turner and Son, aud I take this
opportunity to thank them for their co-operation upon all occasions.
I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant.
JOSEPH LOANE.