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9
BATTERSEA.
Report on the Sanitary Condition of Battersea, for the year 1856,
by Dr. Connor.
TO THE BOARD OF WORKS FOR THE WANDSWORTH DISTRICT.
Gentlemen,
In conformity with your desire, I beg to submit my Annual
Report for 1856.
It is a remarkable and gratifying feature in the sickness which prevailed
amongst the out-door poor receiving parochial relief during the
year, that out of 230 cases of zymotic disease, but four deaths took place
in that period. The number of cases of sickness, from all causes,
amongst this class of persons, was 977, of which 27 only resulted in
death. This low rate of mortality amongst the out-door poor I believe
to be mainly attributable to the improved sanitary condition of their
dwellings. If such be the case, when comparatively so little has been
done, what may we not expect when sanitary measures have been carried
out still more completely ?
Of the total number of deaths amongst all classes (320) occurring in
this sub-district, 95 took place in the workhouse, where very many of
the poor, either worn out by age or labouring under chronic diseases,
or those but seldom admitting of cure, are sent to die—the majority
coming from other sub-districts in the Union.
The 320 deaths, from all causes, which have been registered inthis parish
during the year may be thus enumerated:—1 from small-pox, 7 from
measles, 5 from scarlatina, 4 from hooping-cough, 13 from diarrahœa and
dysentery, 8 from fever, 6 from erysipelas, 41 from lung diseases, excluding
phthisis, 81 from phthisis, 50 from hydrocephalus, atrophy,
scrofula and convulsions of children, 120 from all other diseases not
enumerated amongst the foregoing, and 21 from violence, privation, and
premature birth.
Of the ages of the deceased persons, the following is a correct statement,
in the order of their greatest numbers: 74 under 1 year, 55 from
60 to 80, 53 from 1 to 5, 42 from 20 to 40, 42 from 40 to 60, 20 at 80
and upwards, 19 from 10 to 20, and 15 from 5 to 10. By this it will
be seen that the infant mortality under 1 year was by far the highest.
The social positions of the persons who died during the year have been
made out as near as could be possibly ascertained, as follows:—2 nobility
and gentry, 9 professional and merchant class, 96 middle or trading
class, and 213 labouring class. The large amount of mortality recorded