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 1890
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth District, The Board of Works (Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting & Wandsworth)]
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| Whole District. | Clapliam. | Putney. | Streatham. | Tooting. | Wandsworth. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Deaths from Zymotic Diseases. | 1888 | 304 | 84 | 16 | 77 | .... | 127 |
| 1889 | 169 | 66 | 12 | 32 | 12 | 47 | |
| 1890 | 322 | 67 | 21 | 79 | 10 | 145 | |
| Zymotic Death-rate. | 1888 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1.7 | .... | 3.7 |
| 1889 | 1.1 | 14 | 0.73 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 1 3 | |
| 1890 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 3.3 | |
| Death-rate from all Diseases | 1888 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 11.7 | | 11.4 | .... | 18.0 |
| 1889 | 11.6 | 11 6 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 13.1 | 11.8 | |
| 1890 | 14.5 | 13.8 | | 13.1 | 11.5 | 15.9 | 15.9 | |
There was an increase in the total number of Zymotic
deaths, attributable to an increase in deaths from measles,
whooping cough and diarrhoea, and the occurrence of 21
deaths from influenza. On the other hand, the more
serious kinds, or at all events those included in the
Notification of Diseases Act, all showed a decrease. It
is particularly satisfactory to notice a further decrease
in the deaths from Diphtheria, of which there were 15
compared with 30, 53, and 20 in the preceding years.
This appears to show that the exceptional prevalence in
the last few years has been due, not to general insanitary
conditions of dwelling houses, schools, etc., but rather,
as we have stated in former reports, to personal infection.
With regard to the large number of deaths from
measles and whooping cough, we strongly hold that a
considerable proportion could be prevented by proper
care being taken of the children. It is constantly seen
in both whooping cough and measles that the sufferers
are carelessly allowed to be exposed to bleak winds far
too soon, thus causing unnecessary mortality, and that
every facility is given for the spread of these diseases,