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

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St George (Southwark) 1859

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr]

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Report of the Medical Officer of Health., for the Fourth Quarter, 1858. 3
Let me premise that in my sixth quarterly report 211 houses are recorded in which sanitary
action was taken, and 88 were improved.
Seventh quarter 227 houses are reported and 137 were improved.
Eighth „ 323 „ „ 189 „
Ninth „ 137 ,, ,, 65 ,, „
Tenth „ 246 „ „ 122
Eleventh „ 196 „ „ 60 „ „
And now in the face of all this grevious sickness and largely increased death rate, the number of
places in which sanitary action is only 67 (223 is our average) and 29 of this 67 are old cases
revived, in which the work ordered to be done has apparently been evaded. About 165 places are
recorded in this table, in which the work ordered has not been done, and many of these appear to
be of long standing. I could wish the provisions for collecting dust and house refuse, especially
among the poor, to be more systematic and effective. I believe as much is done as can be under
the present very defective mode. The number of births recorded is 498. The Poor-Law Officers
have vaccinated 127, and 159 have been recorded by the Registrars; now allowing for a considerable
number of infant deaths, &c. we may yet presume that vaccination is very much neglected
and as smallpox epidemics are in some parts of the country, it is a matter to be looked to.

I beg as usual to append the report connected with our water supply, for which I am indebted to Dr. Thomson.

Lambeth Company.Southmark Company.
TOTAL IMPURITY.ORGANIC IMPURITY •TOTAL IMPURITY.ORGANIC IMPURITY.
Oct. —17.441.161.84
Nov. —18.24. 1.5218.28 .1.36
Dec. —20.321.7619.92 .2.16
Average 18.661.4818.241.78

(Signed) WILLIAM RENDLE.