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Of these five diseases of the zymotic class the excess is shown to have
arisen entirely from the increased fatality from fever, which is accounted
for in some measure by the unusually high temperature of the months
of July and August, and even of tbe latter part of September, and by
the many and sudden atmospheric changes throughout the quarter. In
one year only (1818) out of 86 years, as ascertained by Mr. Glaisher,
did the temperature exceed that of the three summer months now under
review; the month of September was also more humid than usual, but
those of July and August were less so than has been observed for many
years. In three of the diseases enumerated in the above table a decrease
in the number of deaths in the September quarter, 1857, is exhibited,
and in scarlatina the numbers at both periods are equal.
It is worthy of remark that all the deaths from fever in the past
quarter, as well as the majority of those from other epidemic and
endemic diseases, occurred amongst the industrial classes residing for
the most part in unculverted localties, or in courts, lanes, and alleys
known to be badly paved, inefficiently drained, or having open ditches,
or other nuisances in their vicinity. At Wandsworth, five cases of fever
appear to have terminated fatally; two in Garratt Lane, one at the
Waterside, one in Edwards' Place, and one in North Street. At Clapham,
three deaths from fever were registered in the quarter, their localities
being, Crescent Place, Park Road; James's Place, Larkhall Lane; and
Park Hill. At Battersea, but one death from fever has been recorded,
and that took place in York Street, where it appears there is an open
ditch. Streatham also returns one death from the same malady, and as
having taken place in a locality (Bridge Green, Lower Streatham,) not
yet possessing the advantages of good drainage and other sanitary
improvements. Putney has, fortunately, no registered death from fever