Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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unusually warm, except for the first 11 days, the mean
temperature of the month being nearly 2½ degrees above the
average. March was mild and pleasant, with a mean temperature
of 46 degrees, which was nearly 4½ degrees above the
average of 41 years; indeed, there have been only 4 instances
since 1771 of so high a mean temperature for March. As
regards the death.rate for this quarter, the Registrar.General
stated that for all England there had not been so low a death.
rate since the civil registration of deaths was established in
1837, but that in London it was in excess for the time of year,
viz., 25.6 per 1,000, owing to dense fogs and the prevalence
of whooping.cough. 1n Hackney the annual death.rate was
222 per 1,000 during the quarter, and was as high as 30'8
during one fortnight, owing to the dense fogs. 1n April the
weather was warm and rainy, with S., S.W. and W. winds, but
the mean temperature was only a little in excess, owing to a
short snap of cold weather at the end of the month. May was
warm and dry, the temperature having been nearly 2 degrees in
excess, and the rain nearly three.quarters of an inch in defect.
June had a mean temperature which was nearly 2½ degrees in
defect, with less rain than usual. 1n all London the death.rate
was 20.9 per 1,000, whilst that of Hackney was only 15.8 per
1,000 population, having been as low as 13.2 for the fortnight
ending June 24th. July had a mean temperature of 60.4
degrees, which was 1.8 degrees below the average, whilst
August was cooler still, the mean temperature having been
only 59.6 degrees, which was 1.9 degrees below the average,
and September shewed a greater departure from the mean even
than the other months, as the mean temperature was only 54 3
degrees, or 2.8 degrees below the average. There was a
deficiency of rain in each month, amounting to 1.41 inches
during the quarter, August being unusually dry. The death.
rate in all London was only 18.6 per 1,000 population, chiefly
owing to the comparatively small number of deaths from
diarrhoea. 1n Hackney the death.rate was only 13.3 per 1,000,
having been as low as 11.3 for the fortnight ending July 15th.