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 Lambeth]
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epidemic in other parts of the Metropolis, I think it necessary to
consider the relation which the affected district bears to the
Hospital of the Asylums Board which is approximate to it.
The Hospital is situated in its own grounds, and bounded on
the north side by the Landor Road, into which opens its way of
approach; on its south side lies the Fever Hospital and the
London, Chatham & Dover Railway; on the west is an open space
partially built on, the roads being unfinished; and on the cast
arc some stables and a row of houses which face upon and
form the west side of Hargwynne Street. The Hospital is
composed of several blocks, the block on the north side being
set apart for Small Pox patients.
In 1882, Dr. Buchanan, in his report to the Local Government
Hoard, draws attention to the circumstances relating to the
epidemic in the neighbourhood of the Fulham Hospital, and to
an investigation upon it made by Dr. Thorne, in association with
Mr. Power. The following arc the conclusions arrived at from
this enquiry:—
"There has been in each epidemic period, an excessive
increase of Small Pox in houses in the neighbourhood of the
Fulham Hospital, as compared with more distant houses in
Chelsea, Fulham, and Kensington.
"The percentage of the houses included in the neighbourhood
of the Hospital has become gradually smaller as the distance
from the Hospital has increased.
"Houses upon the chief lines of human intercourse with the
Hospital have not suffered more than houses lying in other
directions from the Hospital.
"In point of time there has been a very marked relation
between the varying use of the Hospital and the manifestations
of excessive Small Pox in the neighbourhood. This manifestation
has not shown itself while the use of the Hospital was for
convalescents only.
ZYMOTIC DISEASES.
The following Table shows the mortality from Zymotic diseases in the Parish arranged so as to compare the mortality of different years (strangers deducted in each year except 1874-5-6.
1884 | 1883 | 1882 | 1881 | 1880 | 1879 | 1878 | 1877 | 1876 | 1875 | 1874 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Small Pox | 25 | 12 | 17 | 97 | 13 | 13 | 138 | 221 | 8 | 12 | 5 |
Measles | 273 | 155 | 173 | 122 | 143 | 117 | 95 | 171 | 89 | 82 | 72 |
Scarlet Fever | 60 | 86 | 96 | 136 | 228 | 201 | 87 | 123 | 274 | 189 | 31 |
Diphtheria | 71 | 58 | 48 | 37 | 48 | 60 | 63 | 42 | 27 | 46 | 47 |
Whooping Cough | 209 | 126 | 342 | 119 | 275 | 229 | 342 | 89 | 174 | 272 | 89 |
Typhus | 1 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 69 |
Enteric Fever | 45 | 41 | 52 | 68 | 45 | 39 | 66 | 71 | 63 | 84 | 83 |
Diarrhœa | 239 | 160 | 142 | 194 | 243 | 132 | 243 | 118 | 220 | 221 | 174 |