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
Lewisham 1857
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham District]
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69
Widow Cuthbert and one daughter. No water.
Mrs. Wise. No water. Large cesspool in yard at bottom. Privy quite full (for the
three houses). Landlord, Mr. Brown. Agent, Mr. Sanderson, Auctioneer, Greenwich.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| Week ending. | Weight of air. Barometer corrected. Mean inches. | Temperature of Air. Thermometer. | Prevailing winds. | Rainy days. | Amount of rain in inches. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest. | Lowest. | Mean of daily readings. | |||||
| Mar. 28. | 29.625 | 54° 0 | 27°7 | 39° 6 | S. E. | 2 | 0.07 |
| April 4. | 29.334 | 57 4 | 40 1 | 47 8 | S. E. | 7 | 0.45 |
| 11. | 29.519 | 65 0 | 38 2 | 49 9 | Variable | 6 | 0.53 |
| 18. | 29.453 | 46 0 | 31 4 | 43 4 | Variable | 6 | 0.38 |
MAY.
| DISTRICTS. | Males. | BIRTHS. Females. | Total. | Males. | DEATHS Females. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackheath | 5 | 2 | 7 | _ | 3 | 3 |
| Lewisham Village | 15 | 5 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| St. George's Infant Poor-house | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Penge | 2 | 4 | 6 | — | 1 | 1 |
| N. S. Industrial School . | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1. |
| Sydenham | 13 | 14 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 35 | 25 | 60 | 13 | 13 | 26 |
Gentlemen,
During the month ending Saturday, the 23rd of May, the births of 60 children were
registered in the district. During the same period 26 deaths are recorded. The state of
health of the district, as derived from the tables of mortality, thus appears favourable,
as during the corresponding month of last year 35 deaths were registered, showing a
diminution of nine. The mean temperature of the air for the last fortnight has been 14
degrees higher than for the four weeks preceding. Six deaths have occurred from
epidemic disease.
In Lewisham.—One measles, Hanover Street. (No water supply).
One diarrhoea, Hither Green. (No drainage).
In Sydenham.—One hooping cough, Forest Hill Terrace. (Marshy and undrained
road).
One fever, Raglan Street. (In close proximity to the offensive mass of sewage
exuding from Dartmouth Row).
In Blackheath.—One fever, Regent Street. (A locality several times reported).
In Penge.—One dysentery, North Surrey Schools. (Undrained land at back).
Chicken-pox has been very prevalent, principally in the neighbourhood of West Kent
Park, Sydenham.
Hooping cough, although on the decline, is still prevalent.
Several nuisances I have to bring before your notice, some of them suffered to continue
from houses being situated beyond the distance which enables the local authorities
to compel entry. In any case of this kind, when the probable expense would be of the
most trivial description, I should recommend pipes to be laid, so as to bring the houses
within range, or with all the prospective advantages of a sewer, the public generally
will not reap so great an advantage as they are entitled to.