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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1863. 15
Brain and nerves diseases are also upon the increase, and there is every likelihood they
will continue the same progressive course. Mental cultivation is pitted against physical
developement, and both are injured. "Intellectual cultivation sows the seeds of physical
deterioration; and the evils inflicted on the flesh fail not to grow up and ultimately
retaliate with interest on the spirit. The besetting sin of the present generation is that of
reading and thinking. A vigorous circulation is necessary to a vigorous contractility, that
is, health and strength; and that vigorous contractility is incompatible with a high degree
of susceptibility. One of the first effects of civilisation is to substitute the labour of the brain
for the labour of the hands and feet. Bodily imbecility and enfeebled health are invariably
consequent upon a sedentary life; all go to prove that man was destined to live a life of
physical activity" (Johnson.)
Twenty children were suffocated in bed, their ages ranging from 4 days, to 14 months.
A male aged 51 died from rupture of the small intestines, in consequence of a fall in the
street. Three deaths have been referred to fracture of the skull; one, that of a boy, from
a fall through a loophole; another a woman 55, from falling down stairs; and the third, a
male aged 63, from being run over by a Hansom Cab. A man was poisoned by an over
dose of Laudanum. Two females 54 and 70, were burnt to death, from their clothes taking
fire; and a child was scalded to death. A male aged 43 hung himself; another 44 died in
Bethlehem Hospital, from refusal to take food; a third blew out his brains with a pistol;
and a woman cut open her abdomen with a razor, when her bowels gushed out. An infant
14 days old, died from bleeding from the sublingual artery, being injured during an operation
; another newly born was found wilfully murdered; another with a piece of list tied
tightly around its neck; and one was found dead on the Cathedral steps. Two deaths
were attributed to destitution. A young man died from arsenical poisoning, the result of
working in an Artificial Flower Warehouse. The death of a young man, a Banker's Clerk,
was referred to an overtasked brain.
A female resident in the Workhouse reached 90 years of age. And whilst speaking of
age, I may mention that there were thirteen Applicants for Sayer and Shaw's Charity,
whose united ages amounted to 1041 years, giving an average of 80 years, and 28 days each.
According to the requirements of the Bakehouse Regulation Act of 1863, we have
visited the places in which are baked for profit Bread, Biscuits, or Confectionary. We were
with one exception kindly received; and every means were afforded us for inspection. In
no case were there persons under 18 years of age employed in the night. Promises were
given to lime wash the bakehouses, and the passages, and staircases leading thereto,
according to the requirements of the Act. There was no sleeping room on the same level
with the bakehouse, which contravened the Act. In two places pigs were kept; two others
had each a common privy in the bakehouse. These were speedily removed. We inspected
them again on the 4th, 6th, and 7th inst. Thirty one of the bakeries were situated in the
basement, fifty two on the ground floor, and in one case there was a bakery in both places.
The mean temperature for the year 1863 at Greenwich was 50°3; or 1°9 above the
average of 92 years. The winter which was exceedingly mild, was also exceedingly
unhealthy. There was with a few days exception, a daily excess of 4°¾ of temperature
during the first quarter. The temperature of December was also in excess; and the mean
temperature of the three winter months, viz., December, January, and February, was 42°5