Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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heavily upon the poor. Cancer, Nervous Diseases, Urinary
Diseases and of coursa old age were most prevalent
among the better classes. Tubercular and Respiratory
diseases and the deaths due to premature birth and violence
chiefly affect the poorer classes.
Inquests, &c.—Fifteen inquests were held during the year
1884. The following are the verdicts classified as usual.
I. Natural.—Suffocation, 1; Syncope, 1.
II. Accident.—Drowning, 2; Injuries to Ribs, 1.
III. Suicide.—Strangulation, 2.
IV. Open.—Found Drowned, 6; Found Dead, 2.
Fourteen inquests will be found in the Registrar-General's
annual summary as the number from this sub-district,
but one was omitted to be notified as such by the local
Registrar The deaths from drowning form the most
prominent feature amongst the violent deaths of this locality;
and it is my duty as I did last year to point out to the police
authorities the special dangers of the river at the present time.
The building of the new bridge has undoubtedly increased
the risks from this cause during the past and the present
year.
Sanitary Proceedings.—In Table VI. Appendix will be found
a tabulated statement of the sanitary work carried on during
the year. For the first time we have had the services during
the present year of a separate sanitary officer. The advantage
of having an Inspector of Nuisances is obvious. Indeed the
labour of the last twelve months in the matter of house inspection,
&c , could never have been undertaken without the
aid of an officer who could devote his whole time to the work.
All the smaller property and many of the larger houses have
been not only once but several times examined and reported
upon, and a multitude of defects more or less serious discovered
and rectified. Still much remains to be done, and I
would earnestly call upon the inhabitants of this sub.district