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7
Public Health in Retrospect
1860-1960
In previous Annual Reports I have referred to reports made by
my Predecessors one hundred years ago, and the following information
has been extracted from a Report by Dr. William Connor, Medical
officer of Health for the Battersea Parish in 1860.
The population of Battersea in 1860 is estimated to have been
about 19,500 (Population 1960—107,120), showing an increase of
approximately 9,000 during the preceding ten years. Dr. Connor states—
"This fact at once shows not only the growing importance of the parish,
but the necessity which exists for persevering exertions, in order to
ma,intain so large a population under proper and efficient sanitary
regulations."
"During 1860 there were registered in this parish 399 deaths from
diseases and other causes, of which number 205 were of males, and 194
of female being five only in excess of the previous year, notwithstanding
the increase of the population in the interval. The rate of mortality to
population in 1860, I calculate, will have been somewhat under 21 in
1,000." (Deaths 1960—1,138 (561 males, 577 females), rate 10.09 per
1,000 Population.)
During 1860, 112 infants under one year of age died, and, with
the number of births being 680, this gave an infant mortality rate of
164.7 Per 1,000 live births. (Infant deaths 1960—35, rate 18.11).
Houses and premises inspected during 1860 numbered 500 ; 32 cesspools
were emptied and cleansed ; 1 cesspool was abolished ; 131 waterclosets
were constructed; 130 houses supplied with water ; 140 dustbins
provided; 5 pig nuisances removed. These figures, reports Dr. Connor—
"- will show at a glance the character of the efforts that have been
made during the past year to improve the sanitary aspects of the subdistrict
and when the whole of these works are taken into consideration,
it can scarcely be disputed that very many salutary influences have been
brought into operation, the good results of which, especially amongst
the Poor, are daily becoming more and more manifest."
"This being my opinion, I cordially join with my colleagues in
recommending a continuation of efforts to the end of bringing the workand
classes to a still more profitable recognition of the laws of health,
and consequently to a stricter obedience of those laws, as well in the
performance of their social duties as of their physical labours."