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
St Pancras 1868
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Diphtheria caused 50 deaths; Croup, 88 deaths; and Measles, 102
deaths : these numbers being all in excess of those in 1867.
The number of deaths from the undermentioned diseases in London
and St. Pancras respectively were in 52 weeks:—
London.
St. Pancras.
Small Pox
599
23
Diarrhoea and Cholera
4371
286
Typhus and Enteric Fevers
2427
122
Deaths in the Fever Hospital included
Scarlatina
2838
237
Diphtheria
487
50
Hooping Cough
2320
128
Measles
1954
102
Pulmonary diseases (including Phthisis) ...
20681
1376
Phthisis alone
8833
675
If the annual rates of mortality from each of these diseases be calculated from these numbers, they will be for each 1000 persons living:—
| Small Pox | 0-19 | |
| Diarrhoea and Cholera | 1.38 | 1.30 |
| Typhus and Enteric Fever | 0.78 | 0.55 |
| Scarlatina | 0.92 | |
| Diphtheria | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hooping Cough | 0.75 | 0.58 |
| Measles | 0.63 | 0.46 |
| Pulmonary diseases (including Phthisis) | 6.67 | 6.24 |
| Phthisis alone | 2.84 | 3.06 |
Tables are appended, showing the mortality in the different districts
into which the parish is divided in the several quarters of the year, and in
the year of 52 weeks, or 364 days, ending December 26, 1868.
The necessity which exists in this parish for the erection of a Disinfecting
Establishment, where parishioners might have clothing, bedding,
and other articles likely tc harbour infected matters disinfected, has been
urged upon the "Vestry by the late Dr. Hillier in his two last Annual Reports.
I can cordially re-echo all that he has said upon the subject.
Year by year in St. Pancras, and throughout this Metropolis, " Preventible
Diseases" do their deadly work; and it is only the fact, that they are
constantly amongst us, cutting down the primest of our people, and do not
slay their victims by thousands intermittently, that makes us so indifferent
to then- presence.