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No 7.
34
Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
For the Third Quarter, 1857.
November 30th, 1857.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Vestry,
I beg now to present my report for the quarter ending Michaelmas. I have, daring the quarter,
brought before you six individual reports; the recommendations contained in them have, for the most
part been dealt with, or are in progress. This report consists chiefly of tables, similar to, and fit to l r
compared with those presented with previous quarterly reports.
The first Table shews a very satisfactory state of things; notwithstanding, in one of the beforementioned
reports I stated that the cases of sickness among the poor were more numerous than usual;
last quarter I reported 1880 eases, this quarter 2787. There has been much sickness lately from
diarrhœa, and still more lately from influenza; the attacks have, however, been very slight, and the death
list consequently low; about 70 less have died than in the corresponding quarter last year, and 152 less
than the average of the quarter for many years. If we exclude from the calculation the deaths by cholera
epidemics, we yet have lost 100 less than the average of the quarter. London altogether has lost more
212 than in the corresponding quarter last year, and 1386 more than in the corresponding quarter of
1855. You will thus see that our usually unhealthy district has been much favoured. I have not the
least doubt that if we honestly carry out the common sense improvements suggested to us from time to
time, we shall materially and permanently lessen our death list, and, what must not be overlooked, make
life much more comfortable and hopeful for large masses of people who now pass through a most
Miserable and degraded existence; and allow me to add the practical testimony of some of your own body,
given in your hearing, that it pays to make these improvements in hitherto neglected districts.
In the second Table this parish is compared with the same parishes as before; which, to make
the comparison as complete and as instructive as possible, are parishes selected as fair specimens of
various conditions and circumstances. The fourth figure column is from a circular of the RegistrarGeneral's;
if calculated upon the latest rateable value of property, a difference would be shown, so slight
however as not to vitiate the calculation—it is therefore left as it was.