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

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Lambeth 1863

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth]

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9
Epidemic diseases (Table V.) caused 899 deaths, being
in the proportion of nearly 23½ per cent of the entire mortality;
the; deaths from epidemic diseases were forty below
those in the previous year, Scarlatina and Measles being less
frequent; the former caused 207 deaths, against 368 in 1862;
and the latter 97 deaths, against 116 in 1862. But a great
increase occurred from Small Pox, the deaths from which
were 63, against 6 in 1862, and 11 in 1861; Typhus caused
164 deaths, against 154 in 1862; Diarrhoea 171, against 116
in 1862; Whooping Cough 163, against 151 in 1862; and
Diptheria 34, against 28 in 1862. The year was remarkable
for the severe outbreak of Small Pox in the Metropolis,
from which this parish also suffered, but in a minor degree,
no doubt owing to the very successful measures adopted to
arrest its progress. In the six months preceding December,
1862, only five cases had been treated by the Poor Law
Medical Oflicers of this Parish. During January there were
eight cases reported by the Medical Officers, in February
six, March thirty-eight, April forty, May eighty-four, June
forty-seven, July thirty-seven, August twenty, September
twelve, October twenty-four, November twenty-seven, and
December twenty. The means adopted at first to prevent the
disease spreading, were the removal of the sick to the Small
Pox Hospital; at the end of March, however, the hospital
being insufficient to accommodate the very numerous applications
for admission from all quarters, it became necessary to
provide other means, consequently, two Wards at the Work'
house were set apart, one for the reception of male, and the
other for female patients; a house-to-house visitation, in some
of the localities in which Small Pox prevailed, was instituted
for the purpose of finding out the unvaccinated; and the