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

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St Pancras 1864

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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5
of mortality can only be determined approximately. If the population of the
several sub-districts is assumed to have increased since 1861 in the same
annual ratio as between 1851 and 1861, and the deaths in the workhouses and
hospitals are distributed in the way which I have explained in the note to
Table A, the death-rate per thousand varied from 22.2 in Camden Town to
26 9 to Tottenham Court, whilst in Kentish Town the rate was 23.1, in
Regent's Park, 24.6, in Somers Town 25.4, and Gray's Inn Road 26.7. (See
Table A.) Comparing the number of deaths under five years with the number
of births, the sub-districts are ranged in the following order, beginning with
the one in which the infantile mortality is lowest—Kentish Town, Regent's
Park, Camden Town, Grays Inn Road, Somers Town, and Tottenham Court.
(See Table C.)
WORKHOUSE.
The mortality in this building was very high, the deaths numbering 538.
Of these 254 were of persons over 60 years of age, and 77 under 5 years of
age. The average mortality in three preceding years was 457.

PAUPER SICKNESS. During the year 1864, there were 14944 orders issued for medical relief; this was 108 more than in 1663, and 2546 more than in 1862. The cases were thus distributed amongst the several districts:—

North—Mr. JefFerys2060
„ Mr. Knaggs340
„ Dr. Thompson276
North-West—Mr. Claremont2669
Central—Mr. Sutherin3336
South-East—Dr. M. Davis3320
South-West—Dr. Saul2943

There were sent to the Fever Hospital during the year, 179 cases, of which
126 were cases of Typhus Fever, 30 of which died; 22 were Scarlet Fever;
13 of Typhoid Fever ; and 18 other diseases. Of the cases other than Typhus
sent to the Fever Hospital 13 died. There were sent to the Small Pox
Hospital by the Parish during the year 45 patients.
METEOROLOGY.
The mean temperature of the year was 48°.5, which was 0°.8 less than the
average of 23 preceding years, and 0o.l more than the average of 93 years.
The daily range of temperature was on the average, 16°.4, which was 0°.6
above the mean daily range in 23 years. The degree of moisture was 7°.8
which is 5° below the average. The mean reading of the barometer was
29.806 inches, which was 0.021 above the mean in other years. The rainfall
measured 16.7 inches which was 20.1 less than the mean in 47 years. The
first quarter of the year was l°.8 colder, the second quarter 0°.8 warmer, the
third quarter 0°.5 cooler, and the fourth quarter was l°.3 cooler than the corresponding
quarters in 23 previous years. January, February, November and
December, were decidedly colder than usual. The mean weekly movement of
the air was 1596 miles, which is considerably less than the mean of ten proceding
years, 1669.5.