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

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Hackney 1878

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]

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8
of this board, although I was empowered to remove all non.
paupers who were without proper lodging and accommodation,
and were unable to pay for themselves. It is true that the Poor
Law Orders have been liberally interpreted in this district, so
that servants and others living in a similar capacity with
inhabitants, were removed "as being sick and having no home."
That this is the true interpretation of the Poor Laws was stated
by the President of the Local Government Board, in my presence,
in reply to two deputations which waited upon him on this
subject. It was, therefore, clearly no part of the duty of this
Board to have provided hospitals for servants and others
having no home of their own, and with but small, if any funds
at their disposal. The present plan of removal by the relieving
officers seems the best possible, as they live in their respective
districts, and are consequently more accessible than one official
for the whole district would be. It would, however, be a great
boon if the certificate of any qualified medical practitioner could
be legally made equivalent to a certificate from a Poor Law
Medical Officer.

Table I.

Mortality in London from Small Pox, 1840.78.

Years.Deaths.Years.Deaths,Years.Deaths.Average Mortality per 100,000 inhabitants.
184012351853217186613881840-4450.7
184110531854676186713321844-4842.9
18423601855102418686061849-5345.5
1843430185652218692731854-6025.3
18441804185715418709581861-6339.7
18459091858247187178761864-6732.8
184625718591156187217811868-7286.0
1847955186087718731151873-7823.3
184816171861215187456
18495181862345187575
1850498186320121876736
18511066186453718772544
18521166186564618781416

Much surprise has been expressed at the continuance of
small.pox in the Metropolis for so long a period, but a careful