View report page

Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1866—7. 19
In each of the following localities one death from cholera was registered:—Alfredplace,
Borough-road, Buckenham-street, Duke-street, Earl-street, Etham-street, Great
Suffolk-street, Henry-street, Joiner-street, Mason-street, Portland-place, Eed Cross-court,
St. George's-road, lower-street, Union-street, Webber-street, Westminster-road, and
Westcott-street. In each of the following two:—Friar-street, Paved Court, Wellington-street,
and Wellington-place. Three in London-street and Market-street. And 4 in London-road.

The deaths from lung diseases have exceeded the average of 5 years by 27. Consumption
is more destructive than any other disease, and has proved fatal in 211 cases. The
next disease in rate of mortality is bronchitis; 165 persons have died from this disease.
From inflammation of the lungs the mortality has been 110. Over these diseases the weather
exercises a very powerful influence.
The following is an account of those who perished from violence, either by accident,
suicide, or homicide. Two male infants, and six female infants were suffocated in bed.
Their ages ranged from four days to eight months. Six persons died from injury to the
skull and brain, either from being run over, or from falling down stairs. A male infant,
aged 9 months was suffocated whilst drinking milk from a bottle. A female infant was
drowned by falling into a pail of water. A male, aged 9 years, and a female, aged 6 years,
were burnt to death; one from the clothes taking fire, the other from the house being
burned down. A male, aged 71 years, ruptured a blood vessel from a fall. A female, aged
49 years, ruptured her liver from the same cause. A male, 36 years of age, and a female,
52 years of age, hung themselves. A male, aged 41 years, leapt from the roof of a house
into the street. A female, aged 28 years, was murdered by having her throat cut; and
another, 40 years of age, by having her skull broken with a stone.
Thirty-seven persons whose deaths are registered, were 80 years of age and upwards;
3 were 90 years of age and upwards. The utmost limit reached was 94; and he who
passed through that lengthened period of time was an inmate of the workhouse.
Much has been done during the past year to diminish the offensiveness of the trades
carried on in Green-street. Great improvements have been made both in the interior of the
buildings, and in the mode of conducting the works. The emanations proceeding from them
have been much diminished, as well as their offensiveness abated. It was formerly ruled
that usefulness should compensate for noisomeness; and that unless it could be proved
deleterious to health, a manufacture however disagreeable might be introduced into a town."
Is there not a probability that we are hastening to the other extreme, and that we are becoming
too nice about those things that offend the senses? Great cleanliness, order, and