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 1868
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]
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6
The Returns of the Registrar General show that the rain-fall in the
Metropolis during the quarter, has been 6.52 inches. During the corresponding
quarter of the previous year, the rain-fall was 6.29 inches. The
mean temperature of the air has been 41.1°. In the corresponding quarter
of last year, the mean temperature of the air was 38.4°. The mean temperature
in 52 weeks, ending 20th December, 18G7, was 48.6°, and in 1866,
it was 49.9°.
LONDON.
| Jan. 4tli | Jan. 11th | Jan. 18th | Jan. 25th | Feb. 1st | Feb. 8th | Feb. 15th | Feb. 22nd | Feb. 29th | Mar. 7th | Mar. 14th | Mar. 21st | Mar. 28th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deathsfrom Diarrhœa. | 15 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 19 | 14 |
| Deaths from Cholera | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mean Temperatureof the Air | 30.1° | 30.6° | 14.9° | 37.4° | 42.7º | 41.2° | 40.9° | 42.4° | 46.9° | 45.9° | 44.7° | 44.0° | 42.7° |
| Rain fall in inches | 0.05 | 0.81 | 0.79 | 2.03 | 0.51 | 0.36 | 0.04 | 0.16 | 0.70 | 0.13 | 0.36 | 0.07 | 0.51 |
| Deaths in London | 1624 | 1574 | 1596 | 1395 | 1394 | 1394 | 1307 | 1336 | 1266 | 1331 | 1309 | 1298 | 1320 |
| Deaths in the Whitechapel District. | 58 | 66 | 54 | 55 | 52 | 45 | 56 | 42 | 48 | 49 | 42 | 52 | 38 |
The greatest weekly mortality in this district occurred in the week
ending January 11th, when 66 deaths were registered. During the preceding
week, the mean temperature of the air had fallen from 35.4° to
30.1°. The lowest temperature was on Friday, the 3rd January, when the
thermometer stood at 22.8°, or 9.2° below the freezing point.
TRADES' NUISANCES.
It is with a feeling of much regret that I have regularly every quarter
to bring under your notice the nuisance from the Refinery Premises of Sir
Anthony Rothschild. Complaints still continue to be made of the deleterious
effects of this nuisance, and I can bear personal testimony to the
truth of these complaints. When the Board has interfered in the matter,
assurances have been given by Sir Anthony Rothschild, and his agents, to
the effect that, when the several alterations in the construction of the works
were completed, the nuisance would be got rid of entirely. The last
promise made to the Board was to the effect that, as the premises
were then being enlarged, effective measures could, and would be taken to
collect the heated acid vapours and condense them, whereby the neighbourhood
would be entirely relieved from their noxious influence. The premises
have been enlarged, but the nuisance continues to be as bad as ever.