London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St George (Southwark) 1863
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, The Vestry of the Parish of St. George the Martyr]
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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1862. 17
returns of births and deaths in London. To contrast with these are appended the analysis
of waters from other sources.
TABLE No. 6.
| 1862-3. | Total Impurity per Gallon. | Organic Impurity per Gallon. | 1862-3 | Total Impurity per Gallon. | Organic lmpurity per Gallon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwark Company—April | 20.20 | 1.40 | Lambeth Company—April | 20.76 | 1.76 |
| „ „ May | 19.28 | 2.20 | „ „ May | 20.28 | 2.20 |
| ,, „ June | 18.76 | 1.64 | „ „ June | 19.12 | 1.36 |
| „ „ July | 19.72 | 1.28 | „ „ July | 16.40 | .72 |
| „ „ August | 17.60 | .68 | „ „ August | 17.08 | 1.64 |
| ,, ,, September | 18.56 | 1.20 | „ „ September | 16.48 | .48 |
| „ „ October | 17.48 | 1.00 | „ „ October | 17.68 | 1.24 |
| „ „ November | 20.20 | 1.24 | „ „ November | 19.68 | 1.68 |
| „ „ December | 20.88 | 1.60 | „ „ December | 18.70 | 1.68 |
| „ „ January | 20.80 | 2.96 | „ „ January | 19.36 | 3.68 |
| „ ,, February | 21.76 | 1.36 | „ „ February | 20.08 | 1.12 |
| ,, „ March | 18.48 | 1.04 | „ „ March | 19.40 | 1.24 |
| Glasgow Water Supply | 2.35 | .605 | Well at Brighton | 63.60 | 17.52 |
| Thames Bridge, London | 39.84 | 3.52 | Queen Street Well, Edgeware Road | 100.40 | 12.96 |
The water supplied to us is much purer than it was a few years ago, being now obtained
higher up the river, and above tidal influence; yet a greater purity is desirable. It
is not satisfactory to dwell upon the fact, that there are so many towns situated upon the
banks of the Thames above Teddington Lock, which are daily pouring into the river all
their sewage, and other refuse matter. It may be so far diluted as not to be injurious to
any appreciable extent to the health; still the nnpleasant fact remains. The Regius Professor
of Medicine in Oxford, Dr. Acland, sympathises with us concerning this subject, and
is astonished at our forbearance. He says, "Why the Londoners do not rise up in arms
against us provincials, for remorselessly pouring our sewage upon some of their water companies,
is a standing marvel. We may now assume that the elements of disease are carried
in water, though to what distance we do not know. Ordinary prudence should therefore
keep the upper rivers above great towns as pure as is practically possible."
The mean temperature of London for the year 1862 was 49.5°. The temperature of the
air for the first quarter was characterised by its variability, cold and warm days alternating
one with the other, the former however predominating in number and duration. Mr.
Glaisher states, “I have no recollection of such a succession of hot and cold periods of
nearly equal lengths." The mean temperature of the air at Greenwich for the period was
41.1°, giving an excess of 1.6° for 21 years. There was in each of these months an excess
of temperature above the average.
The fall of rain in January was 1.9 inch, in February 0.5 inch, and in March 3.7 inches.
The temperature of the second quarter differed little from the average, being 53.3°.
From the 1st of April to the 7th there was a mean daily excess of 5°. On the 8th a cold
period set in, and continued until the 16th, with a mean daily deficit of 5°. This was
followed by a period of warm weather, with few exceptions, until the 8th June. During