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

View report page

Hackney 1861

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

This page requires JavaScript

9
vaccination has been performed within its limits. I say in great
measure, because vaccination is not an absolute protection against
small.pox, but the same may be said as regards a second attack of the
disease. Measles has, however, prevailed to a considerable extent,
whilst scarlet fever has decreased since 1859, as I predicted at
page 8 of my Report for that year. I expect scarlet fever to be
more fatal during the next two years than it was in 1860 and 1861.
The number of deaths from diptheria is larger than for 1860, but
not so great as for 1859. Whooping.cough has also been on the
increase, 62 deaths having been registered in 1861 against 51 in
1860, and 36 in 1859. The greatest increase amongst epidemic
diseases has been from fever, as I pointed out in my last Quarterly
Report. Diarrhoea has caused a larger mortality than in 1860, but
smaller than 1859. With the exception of fever—the unusual
mortality for which is not confined to any special district of the
Metropolis, or indeed to London itself—we may therefore be satisfied
with the sanitary condition of the district, so far as the causes of
death are concerned. The total number of deaths was not so
satisfactory, but, to a certain extent, the increase has been shared
with other districts.
I now propose submitting to you a Table showing the mortality
in each Quarter, and the ages at death.

TABLE VII. 1861—Ages at Death.

Quarter.Under 1 Year.Between 1 and 20.Between 20 and 40.Between 40 and 60.Between 60 and 80.Above 80.Total.Per Cent.
First8413251771283750929.2
Second75994769841739122.4
Third1041015371722943024.6
Fourth651364862832141523.8
Totals3284681992793671041745100
Per Cents.186118.826.811.516.021.05.9100
186019.326.213.013.721.46.4100
185918.925.113.514.521.36.7100
185824.422.413.514.320.15.3100