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Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1865—6.
faced, weary, unhealthy men who follow noxious and pernicious trades. Whilst upon
this subject, I may as well state that nineteen applications have been made for licences
to keep cows; seven of which were refused, either from the unfitness of the premises, or
their improper situation. Should keeping cows in London be henceforth prevented,
one benefit will be placed to counterpoise the evils of tho plague. And another and
still greater will be, that of the abolition of slaughter-houses, so that we shall be no
longer offended with their noisomene s, nor with seeing droves of cattle hurried along
our crowded streets and roads foot sore and weary, exhibiting symptoms of suffering
painful to behold.
By examining Table No. 4, it will bo seen that in place of 46 deaths which occurred in
1862—3 from small pox, there were only 6 registered in 1865—6. There have been 64
fewer deaths from scarlatina in 1865—6, than in 1864—5 ; to diarrhoea are attributed 85
deaths, the largest number which have happened in 5 years. The summer months July,
August, and September produce more than half the deaths which have followed from this
disease. As the temperature rises above 60°, so do the deaths increase in equal proportion.
As the deaths from this disease have risen during the past year so high as to exceed
the highest number that has been registered during five years by 26, and the lowest by
52, it will be interesting and useful to try and find out the cause. Now we are told, that
the weather of the summer quarter was remarkable. That although the temperature of
July was 2°.4 above the average of 94 years, yet tho temperature of the month of September
in which "the sun no longer rises to the same height, and no longer shines so many
hours," was higher than the temperature of July. In addition, fogs and dews were prevalent
on twenty days, whilst the rain fall was scanty. No instance of so warm a September
has been noticed since 1771. The temperature of the six months from April to September
exceeds any on record since that date. " The year had in it something of a tropical character."*
The deaths from fever in 1864—5 were 128; in the year 1865—6, they havo fallen
j to 51. This epidemic which has raged so long, and so generally, is at last subsiding; to
be replaced doubtless by some other. A change in opinion with reference to the mode of
treating fever patients is rapidly taking place, and mainly owing to the strenuous endeavours
of the Physicians of the Fever Hospital. They say that all the poor afflicted with
fever should be sent off at once to the Fever Hospital, and for these reasons:—that the public
will be thereby protected from the spread of contagion; that tho sick have a fairer chance
of recovery; and besides, that there is less risk to the attendants, they at the Hospital
having become accustomed to the fever atmosphere. All the attendants there, however,
take the fever, and some more than once. Within the period of the last three months of
1863 there were suffering from fever tho Resident Medical Officer and two Assistants, with
four nurses. Well might the Secretary exclaim that "the proportion of the casualties
among those whose humane vocation it is to grapple with disease, exceeds that of the
battle field." This does not say much for the acclimatisation to the polluted air of a Fever
Hospital. With reference to mortality a writer of considerable experience at Liverpool has
given it as his opinion that a much lower rate of mortality prevails amongst people treated
in their own homes. This opinion is by no means limited to one. But so many families
* Quarterly Report of the Registrar General, No. 67.