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

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Whitechapel 1865

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]

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to 247, 89 to 241. Small-pox lias prevailed very extensively in King Street,
Spitalfields, and the courts adjacent; and in the neighbourhood of Grey Eagle
Street and Fashion Street numerous cases of fever have occurred. Five of the
cases of small-pox occurred after vaccination; one of these was that of a child
aged 5 years, who was vaccinated in the week previous to the attack of this
disease; and although the child had six good vesicles, yet this child had smallpox
very severely. Seven of the cases were of children who had not been
vaccinated, and of the remainder (26) there is no record as regards vaccination.
The new cases of illness in the Workhouse have been 934. Of these Mr.
Champneys attended 409, and Mr. Richardson 525. Included in the total
number are 2 of small-pox, 5 of scarlet fever, 2 of hooping-cough, 29 of
diarrhoea, 7 of erysipelas, 3 of rheumatic fever, 3 of ague, 3 of delirium tremens,
and 119 of fever. In the corresponding quarter of last year the total number
of cases was 804, including 1 of small-pox, 4 of measles, 17 of diarrhoea, 3 of
rheumatic fever, 1 of carbuncle, 4 of erysipelas, and 127 of fever.
Two additional water-waste preventers have been erected since my last
report. There are now 14 of these machines in use in this district. They
continue to give general satisfaction to the poor inhabitants. A large cistern
lias been erected in Eagle Place, whereby the tenants have a constant supply
of water, instead of as formerly an intermitting one from a stand-tap. In three
houses in New Montague Street, let out in separate tenements, slate cisterns
have been erected in lieu of water-butts; and in 66 instances new water-butts
have been supplied, or the old ones efficiently repaired. It would certainly be
most desirable that a constant supply of water from the main should be supplied
to all houses occupied by the poor; and this is what I am endeavouring to
accomplish. Butts and cisterns are decidedly better than the daily half-hour
supply from a stand-pipe, but these should be superseded by a supply of water
direct from the main.
From the returns given to me by Mr. Battram, one of the Inspectors, it
appears that, from the 26th July to the 30th December, he has inspected 1,960
houses, containing about 7,840 rooms, all of which he reports that he has inspected.
For the several sanitary defects in these houses, 560 notices have
been served, and in 280 instances the necessary work has been completed. In
the other cases the works are in progress. From the 14th September to the
30th December, 78 compulsory orders have been served for sanitary improvements
to be effected in 155 houses. From Mr. James' returns, it appears that
he served during the last six months 411 preliminary notices; and from
Mr. Coward's returns, 354 have been served. During the same period 27
summonses have been heard at Worship Street Police Court. In these summonses
there were included 149 houses.
The number of births registered during the year 1865 was 2,684, viz. 1,390
males and 1,294 females. The deaths have been 2,532, viz. 1,431 males and
1,101 females. In the preceding year the births were 2,803, and the deaths
2,792. The deaths are therefore less by 260, and the births are less by 119.
The deaths in the London Hospital have been 416 ; of these there were 208 of
residents; and the total deaths in the Workhouse have been 362. The deaths
in these two institutions are 30 per cent, of the total mortality in the district.
Of the deaths in the Workhouse, there were 181 of persons who had been there
for a period of less than one month, 130 for a period of less than a year, and
51 for a longer period.
During the past year 314 inquests have been held. In the previous year
the number was 338. The number of uncertified deaths is annually