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33
Parish of Saint George the Martyr, Southwark.
No 6
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
For the Second Quarter, 1857.
AUGUST 31st, 1857.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Vestry, No. 6.
I have, during the quarter ending Midsummer, brought five individual reports before you. It
is now my duty to present my Quarterly Report, consisting chiefly of Tables somewhat more complete
than before; and a summary of the most important matters contained in the five reports alluded to.
The first Table shows that, usually, less deaths occur among us in the second quarter, than in
either of the others; the averages show the difference in rather an exaggerated form, because of the great
mortality in Cholera epidemics. Allowing for increase of population, the quarter's mortality was about
20 less than the average, and 27 less than that of the previous quarter.
In the second Table, I compare our Parish with others in similar and different circumstances.
One fact that appears, is, that we lose annually 30 in the 1000, the next worse parish 28, the lowest 18.
In fact, there are but two parishes that lose more by death than we do, while there are 33 that lose less.
This fact should, of course, be kept in mind; for no doubt some at least of this fatality is preventible;
if we could keep to the average of all London, we should lose nearly 300 less every year, or even to that
of Bethnal-green, we should lose 200 less every year. It is just as well to know this. Few believe we
are as bad as we really are, and, if we do not believe it, we shall not of course try to mend it; but it
cannot be denied. The healthy standard is 17 in 1,000; we cannot hope to arrive at that. The Registrar
General says, "One of the greatest and most prevailing causes of ill health,"and of the deaths in excess
of 17 in the 1,000, is the condensation of people in towns without the requisite mechanical and chemical
arrangements for removing impurities, for supplying pure water, and for introducing free currents of
pure air." That is really our case—we might have stood for the portrait. You will also remark in this
table as to the iniquity of the rich Londoners paying a low poor rate, and the poor Londoners paying a high
rate; how the city and west-end people buy property, and get a reversion of decreasing rates; and how
we get a reversion of increasing rates—a result by no means contemplated in the original compact. This
bears hardly upon us, it stifles us,—more and more packed, more and more impoverished, with very little
space between the poor ratepayer and the pauper, of course there is more sickness and death. We
cannot at present help this, but there is very much that we can help.
The third Table is more for the future than the present. It is, however, not without interest,
as showing the parallel states of health and weather in this neighbourhood.
The fourth Table shows the mortality in the respective districts of theparish. In the Borough-road
district, a little less population reside upon a little more than half the space of the other districts, and the
mortality and sickness are in proportion uniformly higher; the workhouse is, however, included, and
will account for some of it. Here are shown the returns of sickness from several Institutions. We
are in this matter much indebted to the courtesy of the respective medical officers. The fifth Table shows
the weekly progress of sickness among the poor in the districts. Kent-road, 105 acres, population
19,200,—335 new cases in the quarter, with 60 pauper cases always under treatment. London-road,
112 acres, population 19,000,—304 new cases, and 53 always under treatment. Borough-road, 65
acres, population 16,850,—475 new cases, and 97 always under treatment; so that this density of
population brings you more deaths, more sickness, more expense, and you will observe that the people,
when they become sick in the crowded district, are much longer on the parish books. Fever has much
diminished—less in numbers, and less in severity; no case was sent to the Fever Hospital during the
quarter. The sixth Table is in accordance with the Registrar-General's wishes. I cannot but express
my gratitude for the advice and assistance I have had from that quarter. This Table gives particulars
of diseases, ages, and sexes. Here you will observe that out of 299 deaths during the quarter, 145 were
under five years of age, 157 under twenty. More than half took place under ten years of age. 60 persons
died from zymotic diseases. Of the six diseases especially noticed, and which may be considered as
health gauges, there were 53 as against 47 in the corresponding quarter last year. The diseases vary;