London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1858
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]
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18 days, of ulceration of the navel; on August 8th, the sister of the first
mentioned child, aged 4 years, of diphtheria. There is not a family in this
house which has not been suffering from illness of some kind.
There has been
no death from measles during the month.
There has been no death from measles during the month.
| Mean Temperature (Greenwich.) | Parish cases of Diarrhoea & Cholera. | Deaths from Diarrhoea and Cholera | Parish Cases ol Fever. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1856. | 1857. | 1858. | 1856. | 1857. | 1858. | 1856. | 1857. | 1858. | 1856. | 1857. | 1858. | |
| 67.6 º | 65.2 º | 62.4 º | 40 | 69 | 29 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2nd | 66.1 º | 63.7 º | 65-4 º | 102 | 74 | 26 | 11 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 3rd | 66.9 º | t)5.1° | 63.3 º | 101 | 83 | 46 | 14 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| 4th | 57.8 º | 66.9° | 59.2° | 81 | 99 | 36 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | mean 64.6° | mean 65.2° | mean 62.5° | 324 | 325 | 137 | 45 | 31 | 23 | 6 | 26 | |
Although increased facilities are now afforded to the poor for obtaining
medical aid from the parochial surgeons, the number of new cases which these
gentlemen have entered upon their books during the month, has only been
850 against 870 last year, and 911 in August, 1856. Of these, only 227 were
cases of the zymotic class of diseases, the corresponding number last year
having been 392.
The ordinary zymotic diseases which have been in excess of the average, are
measles 25 cases, scarlatina 13 cases, and hooping cough 19 cases ; the
mean for August of the last two years being 10, 7, and 8, of these diseases
respectively. There have been two fatal cases of cholera in St. Peter's district
already referred to, and 135 cases of diarrhoea against 324 in each August of the
last two years. This difference is most worthy of being noted, inasmuch as the
whole metropolis has this summer enjoyed, hitherto, a comparative immunity
from bowel complaints, notwithstanding that fruits of all kinds have been both
very abundant and very cheap. They have, however, ripened well, and the
quality of those supplied to the poor has appeared to be above the average.
But the less exalted temperature of the season, and the energetic removal of
sources of atmospheric contamination which has been going on for the last two
years, have probably more to do with this improvement. Only 6 cases of
low fever have been entered against 26 in the corresponding four weeks of
last year.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health
42, Myddelton Square,
September 2nd, 1858.