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) 1866
[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—1865—6.
21
clothes taking fire ; as also were a boy and a woman. A female, 53, was scalded to death
by falling into a copper of boiling water. A male, 23, died from fracture of the ribs, being
pushed against a form. A fomale, 40, was suffocated by the escape of gas from tho main
pipe of the Phœnix Company. A male, 46, died from the effects of a fracture of tho thigh
and pelvis, by falling from a window. A female, aged 9, was killed by being run over.
A. female, 63, was blown off a ladder by gunpowder, whilst escaping from a fire. A
female, 46, died from an overdose of colchicum. A female, aged 60, and a male 20, cut
their throats. Five deaths are attributed to self-destruction by hanging; tho eldest having
arrived at the age of 66 ; and the youngest, a boy of 13.
Last year I was unable, owing to the death of Dr. E. D. Thompson, F.R S., to place
before you the analysis of the waters of the Southwark and Lambeth Companies, which
were made monthly and roported by him. This duty has beon undertaken, and is now
carried on by Professor Frankland, F.li.S., from whose Tables I have selected tho one which
follows, and which alone concerns us.
TABLE No. 6.
| NAME OF WATER COMPANY. | Solid Matter in 100,000 parts of the Water. | Organic and other Volatile Matter. | NAME OF WATER COMPANY. | Solid Matter in 100,000 parts of the Water. | Organic and other Volatile Matter. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1805— 6. | 18G5—6. | ||||
| Southwark Company—April | 26.79 | 1.65 | Lambeth Company—April | 25.69 | 1.14 |
| May | 27..33 | 1.70 | „ „ May | 27.60 | 1.95 |
| „ „ June | 24..63 | 1..40 | ,, ,, June | 25.34 | 1.55 |
| „ „ July | 22.76 | 1.16 | „ „ July | 23.15 | 0.97 |
| ,, ,, August | 23.68 | 1..18 | „ „ August | 25.18 | 1.12 |
| ,, „ September | 25.45 | 1.40 | „ ,, September | 25.35 | 1.45 |
| ,, ,, October | 18.78 | 0.84 | ,, ,, October | 25.26 | 1.34 |
| „ „November | 29.32 | 2.32 | ,, ,, November | 217 | |
| „ „ December | 31.32 | 1.98 | ,, ,, December | 29.06 | 1.08 |
| „ „ January | 29.90 | 1..85 | ,, ,, January | 27.10 | 1.91 |
| „ „February .. | 30.90 | 2.40 | ,, ,, February | 31.16 | 1.65 |
| „ „ March , | 29..20 | 1.40 | ,, ,, March | 27.98 | 1.33 |
Tho water supplied to this Metropolis is not such as it has a right to demand. Above
the source from whence the Water Companies draw their supplies, the filth and refuse of
about three quarters of a million of people are poured into it, "Opposite," says Mr.
Menzies, " the mouths of large drains are banks of putrid mud and filth, in some places
five feet deep. From a town of 6000 inhabitants, the solid parts of the sewage recently
deposited might be seen floating four miles from the town." Not only is such a state of
our drinking water disgusting, but it is also full of danger to health and life. There is a
significant statement made by Dr. Farr in his Letter to the Registrar General on the causes
of Death in England in the year 1861. He says "That the whole of the South Midland
Division, which sends its waters down to London, was infested by the fever, to a much
greater extent than London itself; and the waters from fever districts are not always free
from fever leaven."' It was about this time that tho fever epidemic commonced in