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
Mile End 1862
Report of the Medical Officer of Health to the Vestry of Mile End Old Town
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10
The number in the total is small compared with the number
of deaths, and the proportion of deaths from Zymotic disease
to those from ordinary causes, is equally pleasing to examine.
TABLE V.
DEATHS FROM THE SIX PRINCIPAL ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
| Wards. | Deaths from all causes. | Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. | Or in the proportion of 1 to |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | 293 | 53 | 5.5 |
| East | 161 | 35 | 4.6 |
| West | 338 | 73 | 4.6 |
| Centre | 329 | 74 | 4.4 |
| South | 316 | 65 | 5 |
| Workhouses | 113 | 15 | 7.5 |
| Hospital | 6 | — | — |
| 1556 | 315 |
The higher the numbers in the third column of the Table
relating to Zymotic disease, the greater will be shown the
effect of sanitary measures in the suppression of those
diseases which are amenable to such influence.
The relative proportionate liability of the five Wards to
engender or support contagious disease, has a much smaller
range than could be easily credited; for, upon extending
the average over a longer period, namely the last five years,
I find that there is a difference of five tenths only between
the highest and the lowest numbers.