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Parish of St. George the Martyr Southwark. 31
parish of ST. George the Martyr, Southwark.
ANNUAL REPORT
MADE TO THE VESTRY
BY THE
HEDICAL OFFICER OF hEALTH.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING LADY-DAY, 1870.
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen,
With the ending of another year arrives the duty of reporting upon the events which
have happened therein, with reference to the health and sanitary condition of this district.
The past year has been characterised by commercial depression, lack of employment,
and the train of evils which follow such a state of affairs. During this period there have
also occurred two epidemics affecting man and beast. One of scarlet fever amongst the
fomes and amongst the latter that of foot-and-mouth disease. Towards the close of the
Year we were threatened with yet another epidemic, that of relapsing fever, and consequenlty
solicitations were sent out by the Medical Officer of the Privy Council that
we shouid make every preparation for its onset: hitherto I am glad to state that the fears
entertained have not been realised. Here and there a case has happened, and chiefly in
the common Lodging Houses, but not more in number than would equal other kinds of
always present, and which to seme extent the relapsing fever seems to have
replaced
With reference to the scarlet fever epidemic, I shall postpone its consideration until I
qeak osmotic diseases in general; at present I shall give a hasty glance at (ho foot-andmouth
epidemic, which has in various places affected our Cattle, and to some extent the
With of those who in anyway have used such Cattle for food. This epidemic was by no means
Sofatal as its predecessor; neither was it requisite, in order to prevent its spread, to have
recource to the pole-axe. The physical and chemical character of the milk was considerably
altered, and it proved so pernicious, especially when given to pigs, producing in
rem a similar disease, with other evils, that its use was discontinued. Many fanners
fabade its use in their own families, but still continued to send it up to London for con-