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 1879
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Parish of St Mary]
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Analyses of Samples taken from the Mains of the Company.
| 1879. | Total Solid Matter per Gallon. | Lime. | Magnesia. | Chloride of Sodium. | Sulphuric Anhydride. | Nitrogens Nirates. | Nitrogen as Ammonia. | Ammonia from Organic Matter. | Oxygen required by Oxidisable Matter. | Degree of Hardness. | Degree of Hardness after boiling quarter of an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | deg. | deg. | ||||
| January | 21.10 | 8.76 | 0.864 | 1.18 | 1.26 | 0.150 | 0.000 | 0.005 | 0.044 | 15.9 | 5.1 |
| February | 22.50 | 7.16 | 0.540 | 1.77 | 1.26 | 0.190 | 0.000 | 0.006 | 0.035 | 14.8 | 4.2 |
| March | 19.80 | 7.78 | 0.468 | 1.888 | 0.165 | 0.000 | 0.003 | 0.042 | 15.4 | ||
| April | 21.70 | 7.84 | 0.612 | 1.888 | 0.165 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.011 | 14.3 | 2.8 | |
| May | 2030 | 8.06 | 0.648 | 1.888 | 1..30 | 0.135 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.037 | 13.6 | 2.8 |
| June | 19.90 | 7.11 | 0.810 | 1.770 | 1.70 | 0.108 | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0.057 | 13.2 | 4.5 |
| July | 19.80 | 7.53 | 0.718 | 1.77 | 1.07 | 1.120 | 0.000 | 0.002 | 0.056 | 13.0 | 4.0 |
| August | 20.00 | 7.59 | 0.514 | 1.652 | 1.20 | 0.120 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 4.7 | ||
| September | 20.90 | 7.75 | 0.460 | 1.77 | 1.8 | 0.132 | 0.000 | 9.004 | 0.092 | 13.2 | 3.3 |
| October | 19.60 | 7.28 | 0.540 | 1.888 | 1.40 | 0.120 | 0.000 | 0.006 | 0.044 | 13.2 | 3.3 |
| November | 20.20 | 7.70 | 0.432 | 1.888 | 1.40 | 0.132 | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0018 | 14.8 | 3.7 |
| December | 21.70 | 7.89 | 0.360 | 1.88S | 1.46 | 0.225 | 0.000 | 0.008 | 0.032 | 13.7 | 3.7 |
| Average | 20.6l | 7.70 | 1.770 | 1.43 | 0.147 | 0.000 | 0.005 | 0.005 | 14.2 | 3.7 |
Analyses of Samples taken from the Cab-rank at Islington Green.
| 1879. | Total Solid Matter per Gallon. | Lime. | Magnesia. | Chloride of Sodium. | Sulphuric Anhydride. | Nitrogen as Nitrates. | Nitrogen as Ammonia. | Ammonia from Organic Matter. | Oxygen required by Oxidisable Matter. | Degree of Hardness. | Degree of Hardness after boiling quarter of an hour. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | grs. | ||||||
| January | 21.30 | 8.73 | 0.684 | 1.18 | 1.20 | 0.165 | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0.030 | 14.3 | 3.7 |
| February | 22.40 | 7.28 | 0.540 | 1.888 | 1.16 | 0.000 | 0.006 | 0.032 | 14.3 | 3.7 | |
| March | 19.40 | 7.40 | 0.620 | 0.150 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.037 | 14.3 | 3.3 | ||
| April | 21.50 | 7.95 | 0.540 | 1.888 | 1.13 | 0.135 | 0.000 | 0.063 | 0.008 | 14.3 | 3.3 |
| May | 20.70 | 7.59 | 0.468 | 1.888 | 1.16 | o.135 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.030 | 13.7 | 3.3 |
| June | 20.60 | 7.84 | 0.800 | 1.888 | 1.80 | 0.120 | 0.000 | 0.006 | 13.2 | 3.7 | |
| July | 19.80 | 7.53 | 0.470 | 1.77 | 1.43 | 0.135 | 0.000 | 0.003 | 0.056 | 14.0 | 4.0 |
| August | 20.20 | 8.17 | 0.460 | 1.652 | 1.43 | 0.120 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.107 | 15.4 | 5.o |
| September | 20.70 | 7.40 | 0.576 | 1.77 | 1.63 | 0.132 | 0.000 | 0.004 | 0.094 | 1.37 | 3.3 |
| October | 7.63 | 1.888 | 1.20 | 0.126 | 0.000 | 0.006 | 0.052 | 13.7 | 3.3 | ||
| November | 20.60 | 7.63 | 0.432 | 1 .888 | 1.73 | 0.138 | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0.014 | 14.8 | 3.3 |
| December | 7.89 | 0.360 | 1.888 | 1.20 | 0.200 | 0.000 | 0.007 | 0.023 | 13.7 | 3.7 | |
| Average | 20.84 | 7.75 | 0.543 | 1.789 | 1.39 | 0.000 | 0.005 | 0.045 | 14.1 | 3.6 |
The samples were, without exception, found to be bright, clear,
and efficiently filtered.