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

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Islington 1859

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

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It will be noticed on comparing this year with 1857, that while the monthly mean temperature has been nearly the same, the number of parish cases and the deaths from diarrhoea have been absolutely less:—

JUNE.Mean Temperature. (Greenwich.)Parish Cases of Diarrhoea.Deaths from Diarrhœa and Cholera.
185618571858185918561857185818591856185718581859
1st Week53.3°60.6°66.2°62.3°489140211
2nd ,,56.7°56.0°63.8°61.7°4820110130
3rd „59. 1°60.3°67.7°59.7°12121283120
4th „55.6°67.3°64.5°60.0°112528120251
5th „63.4°62.4°58. 6°63.5°83038321344
57.6°61.3°64.1°61.4°39831077749156

At this season of the year all classes should be reminded of the importance
of carefully cleansing the cisterns and water butts belonging to their houses at
short intervals, and also of the danger which attaches to the use for drinking
purposes of the water of shallow wells, which in all cases derive their supply
from a soil contaminated with decomposing organic matters.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
42, Myddelton Square,
July 7th, 1859.