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

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Clerkenwell 1858

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Clerkenwell, St James & St John]

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barely sufficient to maintain the family; hence the living suffer from
want, the parish funds must he appealed to, families become parentless,
and next comes crime. Besides, not only is the trouble and expense of
attending upon fatal illness to be considered, but also that connected
with maladies which are cured, to be taken into account, and which
does not enter into the mortality tables.
That the mortality of Clerkenwell is less than in some other districts
of the metropolis may strikingly be shewn by its comparison with that
of Newington, in which the population is almost exactly the same as
that of Clerkenwell, but with the advantage of being spread over nearly
double the number of acres of ground. The average mortality of
Newington during the last ten years is 1701, that of Clerkenwell being
1404—an excess of nearly 300 deaths; in 1858 the deaths in the
former district being 1764, and in Clerkenwell 1478.
Butitmust beremembered that the population of Clerkenwell is rapidly
increasing ; that numerous offensive businesses, with their train of poor,
and nuisances, are being brought into the District,—even the very
foot-way is becoming converted into shops; and that drunkenness prevails
to an alarming extent; consequently the better classes, who suffer least
mortality, are leaving the District, their houses being occupied and
overcrowded by the poor.
Hence the future sanitary prospects of Clerkenwell, cannot be considered
as favourable.
It is to be hoped however, by unremitting attention to the still
further improvement of the Drainage of the District, the diminution or
removal of the various nuisances, the distribution of the crowded inhabitants,
the provision of a far greater supply of water, and efficient
places for the purification of linen &c. to that the mortality may ultimately
be brought to the proper standard; for surely Clerkenwell has
natural advantages which should place it foremost in a sanitary point
of view among the Districts of the metropolis.
I have the honor to remain,
Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
October, 1859.
J. W. GRIFFITH, M.D.