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
Whitechapel 1867
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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The mortality of children under 5 years of age has been 269. This is
47.1 per cent. of the total mortality. The rate varies in each of the subdistricts
from 27.7 to 73.8 per cent.
The deaths of persons above 80 years of age have been 10; of these one
is recorded to have occurred at the age of 94, and another at the very
advanced age of 110 years.
The number of inquests has been 62, of which 40 were held on bodies
of persons who died in the London Hospital. In the corresponding Quarter
of last year, the number of inquests was 70. Five persons died from injuries
caused by vehicles in the public streets. The reckless driving, now so
common in the public streets, ought to be prohibited, and all persons so
driving should be severely punished.
The returns of the Registrar General show that the rain-fall in the
metropolis during the Quarter has been 11.40 inches. During the corresponding
quarter of last year the rain-fall was 6.27. The mean temperature
of the ah was 59.8°. The hottest day during the Quarter was on "Wednesday,
August 14th, when the thermometer in the shade indicated 89.0°.
The following table, taken from the returns of the Registrar General,
shows the comparative results during the Quarter :—
LONDON.
| July 6th. | July 13th. | July 20th. | July 27th. | Aug. 3rd-. | Aug. 10th. | Aug. 17th. | Aug. 24th. | Aug. 31st. | Sept. 7th. | Sept. 14th. | Sept. 21st. | Sept. 28th. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths from Diarrhœa | 54 | 115 | 170 | 196 | 217 | 189 | 200 | 196 | 226 | 198 | 203 | 114 | 108 |
| Deaths from Cholera | 6 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 12 | 15 |
| Mean Tempera-ture of the Air | 61.9° | 60.0° | 59.2° | 59.2° | 55.0° | 60.1° | 66.1° | 63.7° | 61.7° | 63.2° | 60.1° | 54.8° | 53.0° |
| Rain-fall in inches | 0.31 | 0.05 | 1.75 | 3.73 | 00.0 | 1.09 | 0.77 | 0.59 | 0.20 | 0.46 | 1.18 | 0.16 | 0.13 |
| Deaths in London | 1130 | 1262 | 1230 | 1347 | 1291 | 1274 | 1391 | 1247 | 1288 | 1283 | 1262 | 1138 | 1194 |
| Deaths in White-chapel District | 45 | 34 | 58 | 40 | 44 | 36 | 46 | 45 | 38 | 45 | 50 | 43 | 46 |
The deaths in the Workhouse have been 71; viz., 44 males and 27
females. Of these 1 was from diarrhoea, 1 from choleraic diarrhoea, and 2
from fever. In the corresponding Quarter of last year, the deaths in the
Workhouse were 129, including 2 from diarrhoea, 1 from fever and 60 from
cholera.
The Medical Officers of the Union have attended 3958 new cases of
illness, including 41 of small pox, 44 of measles, 13 of scarlet-fever, 18 of
hooping cough, 836 of diarrhoea, 2 of choleraic diarrhoea, 1 of cholera and
61 of fever. In the corresponding Quarter of last year, the total number of
cases was 4547 ; including 34 of small-pox, 244 of measles, 55 of scarletfever,
41 of hooping-cough, 1021 of diarrhoea, 50 of cholera, 26 of choleraic
diarrhoea, and 80 of fever.