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

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Islington 1857

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]

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a distinct tabulation, but the information obtained by this means is so valuable that
it amply repays the labour it requires. See Tables V. and VI.
Recollecting that the proportion of deaths from zymotic disease in the parish
generally was 22 9 per cent. of all deaths, it appears that Wards 1, 5, 6, and 7, exhibit
a proportion of zymotic deaths decidedly below this mean. Barnsbury Ward occupies
among these the most distinguished place; it held the same position last year .
The Wards in which the deaths from these diseases have exceeded the mean, are
Wards 2, .4, and 8. Ward 3 has greatly improved since last year, when it stood very
low in this respect. The proportion of deaths from zymotic diseases stands this year
at about the mean for the whole parish. Lower Holloway and Thornhill* Wards
exhibit these deaths at, severally, 27.5 per cent. and 26.5 per cent. of those from
all causes. Measles exceeded in fatality the mean for the parish generally, in Wards
2, 4, and 8, chieliy in Lower Holloway, where it was twice as fatal as in the Parish at
large. Thornhill Ward was little behind it. Hooping Covgh was most fatal in Highbury
Ward; it exceeded the mean, more or less, also in Thornhill and St. Peter's.
Diarrhœa was most fatal in St. Mary's Ward, next in Lower Holloway and St.
Peter's, and after these in Highbury and Thornhill Wards. The deaths from Fever
exceeded the average in St. Mary's, Barnsbury, and Thornhill Wards.
In Table VI. you will see the streets in each Ward in which fatal zymotic disease
decidedly exceeded the mean for the whole parish. I have omitted all those streets
where only one death occurred. I commend this list to your careful study. Many
of the localities mentioned have undergone a sanitary inspection under my direction,
and are already under orders for improvement from the Sanitary Committee.
b. Tubercular Diseases.
10. The tubercular class of diseases, represented among children chiefly by
mesenteric disease and hydrocephalus, and among adults by phthisis, or pulmonary
consumption, carried off during the year 436 persons, or 18 per cent. of those who
died from all causes, and 3.03 in every 1,000 of our population. Of these deaths, 239
occurred in the West, and 197 in the East Sub-district; in the former they constituted
18.6 per cent. of all the deaths, and in the latter 17.6 per cent.: 209 were males, and
227 females. Comparing the mortality from these diseases with the population of
each Sub-district, it appears that they were during the year fatal to 3.18 in every
1,000 in the West, and 2 86 per 1,000 living in the East Sub-district.
The proportion of deaths from this class of diseases has been precisely the same as
last year, and the West Sub-district still continues to exhibit them in excess of
the East.
11. Phthisis alone was fatal to 294 persons, or to 2.04 in every 1,000 of those
living. The deaths from this disease constituted 12.1 per cent. of all the deaths in
the year : 137 were males, and 157 females. If we assume the sexes to be, as in 1851,
in the relation of 100 males to 123 females, then the females, considering the numbers
living, have suffered less from phthisis than the males; for in this proportion there
should have died 168 females from this disease. In the West Sub-district 175 died
from phthisis, or 2 33 per 1,000 of those living, and 13.5 per cent. of all deaths. Of
these 83 were males and 92 females, (again an excess of male deaths: those of females
in relation to their number living should have been 98†). In the East Sub-district,
119 died from phthisis, or 1.72 per 1,000 of the population, and 10.6 per cent of all
deaths: 54 were males, and 65 females. The females from the number living,‡ should,
to correspond with the male deaths have been 68.
*I have no question that I placed Thornhill Ward in too favourable a position last year. A great
many of the deaths from zymotic diseases which I was unable to refer to this Ward occurred in Strouds
Yale, and my difficulty arose out of my ignorance of the names of the several cottages, &c., which constitute
that locality.
100 males to 119 females. ‡100 males to about 127 females.