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

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Islington 1863

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

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Scarlet fever occasioned 29 deaths, the weekly numbers being 10, 4, 4, 11. The
number of new cases in table II. amount to 47.
Of the six fatal cases of diphtheria, five occurred in two houses at the southern
extremity of the Douglas Road, three in one house and two in the other. An
opinion has been expressed by some of the neighbours that the attacks were due
to malaria from exposed mud upon the bank of the New River. I cannot say I
coincide in the opinion, although it must be admitted that such exposure should
not have been allowed. I have reason for believing that other causes were in operation,
some of which are now in course of being remedied. There had been a death
from typhoid fever, a little while before, in an intermediate house.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
June 1863.