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REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF SAINT PANCRAS, MIDDLESEX,
DURING FEBRUARY, 1857,
by
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for the Parish of Saint Pancras.
March 10th, 1857.] [No. 11.
TO THE SANITARY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen—
The total number of deaths registered in this Parish during the month of
February was 355. The average for the corresponding four weeks in the ten
preceding years is 328, which gives, when raised for increase of population, 361,
somewhat more than the actual mortality. During the first week of the month
95 deaths were registered; during the second, 90; during the third, 92; and
during the fourth, only 72. Diseases of the respiratory organs were fatal in
100 cases, of which 32 were children under 5, and 10 persons over 80 years
of age.
The above number does not include 53 cases of consumption.
Of zymotic diseases only 59 have died; of these there were 15 cases of
measles, 11 of low fever, 7 of hooping cough, and 4 of scarlet fever.
Eive children and 1 adult have died of syphilis. Diseases of the nervous
system have been fatal to 45 persons, of whom 17 were under 3 years of age.
Twenty-two persons have died above the age of 80, a large number when it is
considered that at the census of 1851 there were only 644 living in the Parish
at that age.
WORKHOUSE.
There have been 37 deaths in this establishment. Five of these were from
measles, which still exist, but the disease is much less virulent than during last
month. Puerperal fever has not again made its appearance, and erysipelas has
almost disappeared. The general health of the establishment is good. During
the month the Lying-in Ward has been much too crowded, but this has now
been remedied. The Lunatic Wards, especially for the men, are still much too full.
My attention was recently directed to a case of suspected poisoning, from
the use of what are called Locust nuts or beans. They have been of late years
imported in considerable quantities into this country, as food for cattle. They
are also frequently bought by children, and eaten in large quantities on account
of their sweetness. They are large brown pods, containing a sweetish pulp,
tasting like manna, and dry brown seeds. They are the fruit of a tree belonging