View report page

REPORT
ON THE
SANITARY CONDITION OF SAINT MARY, ISLINGTON,
DURING JULY, 1857.
No. IV.
During the Month of July, Islington shared in the increase of sickness which
has prevailed in the Metropolis, especially over the parishes constituting its
Northern division.
The mean temperature (Greenwich) of the five weeks of July, has been
64.7°, or three degrees higher than during the corresponding weeks of last
year. The result has been an unusually early increase of zymotic sickness
and mortality, especially from the diarrhoea and choleraic disorder, which the
heat of summer invariably elicits. According to Mr. Glaisher, the mean temperature
of the first week of the month, was 1 degree higher than the average
of the same week in 43 years; in the third week it was (5.3 degrees higher;
in the fourth, 6.7 degrees higher; and in the fifth, 2.3 degrees higher. An
additional cause of sickness is being pointed out by the Association of
Medical Officers of Health, in the diminution which the water in the rivers
supplying London has been undergoing, (as measured on the weir at Stonebridge
Lock, River Lea), and the increased impurity of the drinking water
occasioned thereby; the impurities both in source and supply remaining the
same, while their dilution is lessened. On Saturday, April 11th, the
depth of water on the weir was 6.1 in.; on July 25th, it was only 2.0in.
Diarrhoea has been increasing in London just in proportion as the water has
lessened. During the whole of the five weeks also, the wind has been principally
in the South-West, and Islington has thus been supplied with air partially
damaged by having passed over London.
The number of deaths registered in the five weeks was, 248, viz.—125 in
the West Sub-district, and 123 in the East. In the corresponding weeks of
last year, the mortality was 202, or 212, if augmented for increased population
with a view to comparison with this year. The excess of 36 deaths is due to
zymotic disease, diarrhoea and infantile cholera being the diseases to which it
is especially attributable. Last year in the month of July, the registered deaths
from diarrhoea and cholera were only 16; they have this year amounted to
57, (29 males and 28 females ) All these, with the exception of two females,
aged respectively 70 and 78 years, were infants, 49 being under one year of