London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Poplar 1895

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Bromley, South District comprising the parishes of All Saints Poplar and Bromley Saint Leonard]

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32
As to the school age, 3 to 10 years, Chart III., I do not doubt that
crowding children together in badly ventilated school-rooms causes
the spread of the disease ; but as during the hot weather the schools
are well ventilated, doors and windows being thrown open, I do not
think that the crowding together during the hot weather can be
regarded as a source of danger.

I do not think that the crowding together during the hot weather can be regarded as a source of danger.

3 to 10 years.Total.School age cases.
Males.Females.Per 100 cases notified.
South Poplar19163547.2
North Polar49479653.9
South Bromley40478750.2
North Bromley36377348.6
Totals14414729150.6

The months of May and June from Chart I. were remarkably dry,
hence the sewer were not properly flushed, and their sides, which are
always coated witn a thin layer of sewage, were not kept moist, so
that the germs of disease were not prevented from escaping
through the sewer ventilators. The street gullies (see page 72) also
became untrapped, and no doubt also a large number of house gullies
had their traps unsealed and allowed the sewer gas to escape.
The rain came in the beginning of July, 0.30, 0.13, 0.46, and 1.66
inches in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks respectively. Now, remembering
that in the conjoint report of Sir Benjamin Baker and Mr.
Binnie on the main drainage of London, presented to the County
Council, and in reporting upon the low level sewer, these two gentlemen
state:- "But the periods and duration of the overflows are of
course dependent upon the rainfall, and probably the sewer becomes
surcharged whenever the fall exceeds one-tenth of an inch per diem,"
it stands to reason that the low level sewer and also the middle level
sewer would be well cleansed in their course through the Poplar
district, inasmuch as they would be flushed by the collected rainfall
of that portion of the Metropolis drained by these sewers, hence the