London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hanover Square 1866

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hanover Square, The Vestry of the Parish of Saint George]

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23
The Sickness.
In the Hanover and Mayfair Sub-Districts, the total number
of cases treated by the Parochial Medical Officers and at the
Dispensary, Mount-street, and in the Sick-Wards of the Mountstreet
Workhouse, has been 4309. Last year the number was 3732.
In 1864 the number was 4450 ; in 1863, 3901; in 1862, 3803.
Amongst them were 6 cases of small-pox treated at home,
7 sent to the Small-pox Hospital, and 4 private cases—together,
17, which, with preceding cases, make the entire number known
to have occurred in the Hanover and Mayfair Sub-Districts since
December 1862, to be 173. There were thirteen cases of chickenpox,
133 of measles, 56 of scarlatina, 28 of whooping-cough, 159
of diarrhoea, 4 of cholera, 60 of fever, 7 of erysipelas, 870 of bronchitis
and catarrh, 8 of diphtheria, 6 of pleurisy, 6 of pneumonia.
As for the diseases not specified by name in this list, they are
of a low sort, as might be expected amongst the class which
resorts for gratuitous medical aid, as phthisis, indigestion, and the
like. We notice, again with regret, the frequent entries of the
itch, as that is really a complaint which ought to be unknown in
this Parish, with its baths and washhouses.
Sickness in the Belgrave Sub-District.
In the Belgrave Sub-District 30,367 persons were treated by
the Parochial Surgeons, and at St. George's Hospital, the Royal
Pimlico Dispensary, the St Paul and St. Barnabas' Dispensary,
and the Workhouse, Little Chelsea; of these 18,742 were patients
at St. George's Hospital. The whole number includes 23 of
small-pox, 33 of chicken-pox, 357 of measles, 103 of scarlet fever,
225 of whooping-cough, 753 of diarrhoea, 28 of dysentery, 103 of
continued fever, 41 of rheumatic fever, 67 of erysipelas, 11 of
diphtheria, and 12 of carbuncle.
There were also 2076 cases of bronchitis, 42 of pleurisy, and
139 of pneumonia.
Vaccination.
In the Hanover and Mayfair Sub-Districts the number of
persons vaccinated by Mr. Jay was 234, of whom tho operation
was successful in all.
The Vaccination Act is a dead letter as regards the registration
of Vaccination. From time to time, through the courtesy
of Mr. Jay and Mr. J. L. Hughes, the Registrars of the Hanover
and Mayfair Sub-Districts, we obtain a list of births amongst the
poorer classes, and send round to enquire whether the infants
have been vaccinated. The regulations of the Parochial Schools
are also a great help, as they detect any failure of Vaccination
in children who apply for admittance. Still, virtually, Vaccination
is left to the good sense of the people; and the number who
apply for vaccination at the public expense, bears a fair proportion
to the number of births.