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
Hackney 1861
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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birth and debility; 38 from old age; and 17 from violence, including 5
from suffocation in bed (all infants); and 3 from burns and scalds. The
number registered as from old age was unusually large, and included 9
persons who were 87 years of age and above, viz.:—2 of 87 years old, 2
of 88, 1 of 89, 1 of 90, 1 of 91, 1 of 92, and the other above 100 years
old. No less than 8 of these were females, and only 1 a male.
The nuisances abated by Mr. Valentine during the past quarter are as follows:
| Cesspools emptied, filled up, and drained into the sewer | 57 | |
| Cesspools emptied | 20 | |
| Horse, cow, pig, and vegetable refuse removed | 54 | |
| Houses limewashed, purified, and repaired | 38 | |
| Pigsties repaired or removed | 13 | |
| Foul and offensive drains cleansed and reconstructed | 61 | |
| Other nuisances | 10 | |
| 253 | ||
The temperature, as already stated, was very low in January, so much
so indeed as to have been quite an exception. Mr. Glaisher observes, in
the Quarterly Report of the Registrar General for Births, Deaths, &c., that
"the cold of the first half of January this year was more rigorous than in
any corresponding period since 1820," and that it was the coldest January,
with one exception, since 1842. The highest temperature recorded at the
Town Hall was 54.6°, and the lowest 14.2°, affording a range of more
than 40°. The amount of rain-fall was less than usual, having been
about 4½ inches.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN W. TRIPE.
May, 1861.