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
Wandsworth 1863
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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of medical investigation in all cases where the cause of death
has not been certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner.
Age at Death.—A fifth part of all deaths occurred during
the first year of life; 37 per cent. did not exceed 5 years
of age; and 46 per cent. took place under the age of 20.
Social Position.—Upwards of four-fifths of all deaths occurred
amongst the labouring and industrial classes. Of the 69
deaths from epidemic diseases, 59 took place amongst them.
epidemic diseases—prevalence and fatality of.
The following Table exhibits the deaths which resulted from the principal epidemic diseases during the past and seven preceding years, and the relation which they bore to the deaths from all causes.
| YEARS. | Small Pox | Measles. | Scarlet Fever. | Diphtheria. | Whooping Cough. | Diarrhoea. | Fever— Typhus and Typhoid. | Total Deaths from Epidemics. | Total Deaths from all cause. | Per centage of deaths from Epidemics to deaths from all causes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1856 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 314 | 13.6 |
| 1857 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 11 | 29 | 248 | 11.2 |
| 1858 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 289 | 7.6 |
| 1859 | 2 | 7 | 43 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 60 | 311 | 19.2 |
| 1860 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 308 | 7.1 |
| 1861 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 30 | 246 | 12.1 |
| 1862 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 62 | 273 | 22.7 |
| 1863 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 62 | 300 | 20.6 |
From which it is seen that the total number of
deaths from these diseases was the same in the last as
in the preceding year; and that the proportion which
they bore to deaths from all causes was about one
third greater than the average. This excess was due
principally to a severe epidemic of Scarlet-fever which prevailed
during the latter six months of the year. This