London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Wandsworth 1864

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]

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19
number of deaths from each of the seven principal Zymotic
Diseases, during the nine years in which the Metropolis
Local Management Act has been in operation. It is
gratifying to observe that the mortality from these diseases
under each head (with three exceptions) was much lighter
in the past year than in the preceding one.
Years.
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
Small-pox 1 0 1 9 6 6 1 11 3
Measles 14 2 14 2 20 0 6 24 12
Scarlatina 9 8 25 26 24 22 13 28 11
Diphtheria 0 0 0 0 9 13 3 1 2
Whooping-cough 4 13 13 6 21 14 14 9 10
Typhus 4 7 11 12 6 5 8 6 14
Diarrhœa 4 27 16 11 5 16 7 16 11
Totals 36 57 80 66 91 76 52 95 63
The Zymotic Diseases mentioned in the above table are
mostly incidental to the young, and from their prevalence
and fatality demand the most anxious consideration. The
fluctuations observable in the number of deaths from these
maladies from year to year are as remarkable as those in
respect to the births and marriages.
How soon science may be enabled to satisfactorily explain
the causes of the invasion of these diseases it is impossible
to say, but beyond calling them preventable, and shewing
how they can be rendered less virulent and more amenable
to treatment, science has, as yet, much to enlighten us
upon.
SMALL POX AND VACCINATION.
In the past year there were registered 640 births (305
males and 335 females) of whom I successfully vaccinated
211 only. Of this number 25 were of young persons
B 2