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REPORT
on the
SANITARY CONDITION OF SAINT PANCRAS, MIDDLESEX,
DURING JULY 1857,
by
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D.,
Medical Officer of Health for the Parish of Saint Pancras.
August 11th, 1857.] [No. 16.
TO THE SANITAKY COMMITTEE.
Gentlemen—
In the five weeks that ended on Saturday, August 1st, there were registered
in this Parish 380 deaths. Of these, 92 were registered in the first week, 63 in
the second, 50 in the third, 79 in the fourth, and 96 in the fifth week.
The average number of deaths in the corresponding weeks of the ten years
1847-56, was 346; this number becomes, when allowance is made for the
increase of population, 381; so that the present return gives a number very
near to the corrected average of the ten years.
The mortality recorded this month exhibits, however, a very decided
increase on that of last month; in the four weeks of June the weekly average
was 66 5, whilst in the late five weeks the average was 76.
The increase is chiefly due to the prevalence of diarrhoea, which has,
together with English cholera, been fatal to 58 persons. Of this number, 46
were children under 1 year of age, 7 between 1 and 2 years, 2 between 2 and 3
years, and 3 were persons over 60 years of age.
During the fourth and fifth weeks severally, 20 deaths have occurred
from diarrhoea. These numbers show a mortality from diarrhoea very much in
excess of what is usual during the month of July. Last year, instead of 58,
there were only 20 in the five corresponding weeks.
It is generally the case that a very high temperature gives rise in London
to diarrhcea, which proves very fatal to young children. It was so last
year during August, which was the hottest month, and during the late month
the temperature has been considerably above the average. The average
temperature during 43 preceding years was 61.7°, whilst this year it has been
64.7°. Of the 35 days only 9 have been cooler than usual, whilst on the 28th
June the temperature was 12.4Q above; on the loth Judy, 11°; on the 23rd
and 24th more than 9°; and on the 31st, 8.3° above the average of previous
years.
It is to the young that the heat proves especially fatal, as may be seen by
observing the following statements. Of the total number of deaths exactly one
half were of children under 5 years, and more than one-third under one year of
age. During the months of April, May, and June of this year, children under
5 years of age died at about the rate of nearly 27 per week; during the last