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Sou 3 No. 9
Parish of Saint George the Martyr Southwark.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
For the First Quarter, 1858. .
April 16th, 1858.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Vestry,
I have now to present you with the report for the quarter ending April 3rd ; it comprises
abstracts of matter brought before you in the eight individual reports presented during the quarter, and
the usual Tables. The first Table shews an absolute increase of deaths as compared with those of the
corresponding quarters of 1856 and 1857; but when the average number of deaths is considered, and the
proper addition made for increase of population, 1 find 73 deaths less than the average : the rate of
increase of population, as shewn by the census, is 592 upon the average, each year : during nine of the
last thirteen years the deaths were many more for the quarter than in this now ended, although the
population averaged three or four thousand less. We may then fairly conclude that the public health is
improving. Thirty-five aged persons have died during the quarter, sixteen from 70 to 80—sixteen from
80 to 90—three from 92 to 97—eight were males and twenty-seven females—twenty-nine of the thirtyfive
were persons living in the poorest districts of the parish, and twenty-four out of the twenty-seven
women were widows. Nine infants, not all however actually destroyed during the quarter, met their
deaths under suspicious circumstances—the most of them were suffocated ; one aged person died from
want, and one from suicide.
In the second Table, as compared with the corresponding one in last report, you will observe
that out of the eight parishes noted, six, including ours, show a more or less decreased mortality, and two
only a slight increase. The state of health is however about the same, as that quarter consisted of
fourteen weeks and this of thirteen. Diarrhoea diminished from twelve to two, and fever from nine to six.
No fever or smallpox cases were sent to the Fever Hospital. 3369 "casuals" were relieved at the
Workhouse. The men sleep below ground in a space intended for eleven, the women and children above
ground in a spaoe intended for fourteen; frequently they contain very many more; an early morning
visitor would perceive by the occasional stench of these underground rooms, that for health's sake as well
as humanity, some great change in the mode of treating and of supporting this class of persons is
required—they come from all quarters and usually to the poorest parishes.
The third Table shows an increase of zymotic disease as compared with the quarter last year;
•his has arisen from measles, scarlatina, croop and hooping cough; while diarrhoea and fever, which are
Bore our tests of a bad or good sanitary condition, have shown a great decrease. The temperature of the
Bid-quarter was very low, the coldest February and half March for forty years; this accounts for the
increased deaths from hooping cough, and for no small portion of the 128 deaths from chest diseases. A
more attentive and common sense regard to the weather,(which in this climate is often so very changeable
and trying,) and the consequent judicious exposure or protection of tender-chested persons, and children
with hooping cough, would save a very large number. Hooping cough (except in previously diseased
children) is with fair management by no means a destroying complaint, but the majority of children so
circumstanced would do far better with good common domestic care, than with the nostrums with which
They are so often teased, and I believe destroyed. The wind was S.W. and Westerly at first; it has ever
since been Northerly, Easterly or changeable. The rain-fall was about one-third less than the average.
The fourth Table shows 103 deaths in the Kent Road district, or one in 186 of the population.
108 „ London Road „ 175 „
127 ,, Borough Road „ 132 „
last, however, comprises the Workhouse, and consequently a few cases from the other districts. It
also gives the particulars of 1472 cases of illness among the poor, and of 1019 attended at the Royal South
London Dispensary. The amount of sickness among the poor remains much as it was ; about forty less,
Perhaps, under constant care. I have as usual to acknowledge the courtesy of the medical officers of the
respective institutions in the parish for the returns here recorded. No death, and only two cases from small
Pox, are recorded; nor were there any deaths in the corresponding quarter. I know not for certain
ether vaccination is or is not attended to fairly in this parish ; the parish surgeons vaccinate about four
times the number of children born of paupers; the total births for the quarter were 540, the total
Vaccinations performed by the appointed officers, 207. No doubt a large number are vaccinated by
pate surgeons and at institutions, but very many children beyond the proper age are found unvaccinated.
there are some who this great precaution, and so not only imperil themselves but others ; here is
the vevil and indeed 1 believe the reason why the disease is not altogether banished; the records show a
great decrease in deaths from this disease in London, 41 this quarter; the corresponding quarter of 1857,