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a mournful sacrifice of life from "Drowned whilst bathing in the Thames."
Here, at a comparatively small and insignificant cost, a Free Swimjtiing
Bath may be formed by a Philanthropic effort, which while it saves the
loss of life, may render no longer necessary the issue of the annual
Police notice of caution against "Indecent Bathing in the Thames,"
and will exempt the residents of the immediate vicinity of the Creek
from the present disgusting and baneful effects. The mortality of
London in 1869, the Registrar General says, has been exceptionally
high, and therefore, as might be expected, that of the Fulham District has
coincided, though the excess has certainly not arisen from any special
outbreak of Epidemic disease amongst us. Our total number of
deaths has been 1,395, of which Hammersmith has contributed 823 and
Fulham 572. The average mortality, the Registrar General says, for 30
years, of the five regions of London, ranges from 23 in the north and 23
in the west, to 25 in the south, 25 in the central, to 26 in the east districts.
In the year 1869, the mortality exceeded these averages everywhere,
"except in the west districts, and in south London, where the effects of
drainage are manifest. The mortality was at the rate of 28 per 1000 in
the east districts." Scarlet Fever has prevailed not only in London, but
throughout the country, and is one of the most difficult Epidemics to
stay by Sanitary measures; its poison (the most subtle of any) is most
easily conveyed, and the disease affecting to a great extent the better
classes of society, renders the necessary supervision more difficult to
carry out. The practice of sending children to schools from infected
houses, and of sending children home from school, where the disease
appears, is a most constant means of propagating it. The number of
deaths from Scarlet Fever within the Fulham District in 1869 has been
67, from Fevers of various types 42, from Measles 6, from Whooping
Cough 49, from Diarrhœa 110, and from Diptheria 9. No death from
Small Pox has been registered. The number of Births registered in the
52 weeks ending Saturday, January 2nd, 1870, was 2,161.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your faithful Servant,
Hammersmith,
June 8th, 1870.
FREDk. J. BURGE,
Medical Officer of Health.