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

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Hackney 1858

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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5
water poured into the drain to escape into the sewer instead of into
the house. Further, if the air of the house drain should find its way
into the house, it is not so highly charged with noxious compounds
as under ordinary circumstances, and the air from the sewers cannot
interchange with that of the house drain. I have seen a series
of experiments tried with his apparatus, and found, on water being
poured into a water-closet, that a strong current took place through
the supply-valve into the house drain; that the air-valve opening
into the sewer was strongly acted on, and allowed a ready passage
of air into the sewer from the house drain, without any current
from the sewer into the house, whilst the shakle-trap was not acted
on until the water rushed out, and then no current of air passed
into the house drain as with an ordinary trap.
In my Quarterly Reports for the year I have pointed out the
most prominent occurrences as regards the sanitary condition of
the District; and must, therefore, refer to them for many particulars
which would otherwise have been enumerated here.
In my first Report I showed that, during the years 1847—55,
there were 154 births to each 100 deaths; and during the past
year, there were 2454 births against 1629 deaths: or, at the rate
of 156 births to each 100 deaths. The deaths in all the public
institutions, as well as the births, are included in these numbers;
so that the proportion of births to deaths is smaller than it would
have been had they been confined to the District proper.
The following Table shows the number of deaths in each Subdistrict
in each quarter:—

Per cent.

1858—Births in each Sub-district.

Quarters.Stoke NewingtonStamford Hill.West Hackney.Hackney.South Hackney.TOTALS.
First4227233247108657
Second4831181217103580
Third4228209220108607
Fourth3640186225123610
Totals1681268099094422454
Births6.75.132.937.318.0100
Pop. 18518.49.631.735.714.6100

We see from the above that the smallest birth rate occurred
in Stamford Hill Sub-district, where only 51 births were registered