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REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF ST. MARY, ISLINGTON,
FOE, JULY, 1867.
No. CXXIII.
We have just passed through, a July remarkable for its extraordinary
weather, and especially for the lowness of atmospheric temperature.
In the first week it is true the mean temperature at Greenwich was half
a degree above the average; but in the second week it was 1.9 degrees,
in the third 3.1 degrees, and in the fourth 25 degrees below the
average. Very little rain fell in the first two weeks, but in the third I
measured a total fall of l.48 inches, there being only one day on which
no rain fell; and in the fourth week I measured a total fall of 2.36 inches,
of which 2.22 inches fell on one day, July 26th, with a shifting of the
wind from South to North and North-east, and some thunder. The
greater part of this, namely 2.02 inches, fell between midnight and
10 a.m. At Greenwich 3.67 inches were measured on that day, 3.18
inches being measured up to 10 o'clock. This is said to be the greatest
amount of rain-fall ever recorded within 24 hours at the Observatory.
It is a general rule which I have deduced from accurate observations
now carried on for over ten years in this Parish, that such a
reduction of atmospheric temperature, and such heavy rain-falls, especially
in the summer season, exercise a most beneficial influence upon the
public health.
The number of deaths registered in the course of the four weeks,
amounted only to 248, the corrected mean mortality of July for 10 years
past being 326. The deaths from what is termed the zymotic class
of diseases were only 61, the numbers for nine years previously in July
being 80, 99, 45, 74, 68, 136, 103, 166, 104. There were only 26
deaths registered from diarrhœa, and seven from choleraic diarrhœa; the
latter I have, in accordance with the custom, tabulated under the
designation of cholera. All seven were infants under one year of age.
EDWARD BALLARD, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Vestry Offices,
August 3rd, 1867.