View report page

MAY.
DISTRICTS.
BIRTHS.
DEATHS.
Males.
Females.
Total.
Males.
Females.
Total.
Blackheath
3
3
6
4
1
5
Lewisham
9
7
16
4
4
8
Union Workhouse
-
-
-
3
1
4
Sydenham
17
8
25
6
5
11
Penge
3
3
6
-
1
1
Total
32
21
53
17
12
29
Gentlemen,
The mortality during this month (the same in number as in April) bears an exceedingly
favourable average, the number of deaths recorded being twenty-nine.
During the same period last year forty-six deaths were registered.
The health of the district in some parts (viz., those suffering from insufficient or
offensive drainage) is, however, not quite so good as the above satisfactory returns would
lead us to suppose. Four cases of smallpox have been brought under my notice; and
as in all the metropolitan districts this disease is more than ordinarily prevalent, it is
necessary that the strictest attention should be paid to vaccination, to annihilate this
fearful disease.
A superior ladies' school in Sydenham has been broken up in consequence of a death
from malignant sore throat (diptheria), but the disease does not appear to have
originated in that establishment, although the houses drain into an open ditch a few
yards from the termination of the Park End sewer.
Some cases of malignant scarlet fever have occurred in West Kent Park ; and hooping
cough is extensively prevalent in the whole district.
I have to lay before you a few remarks as to the drainage of this district, varying in
character according to the nature of the soil. Thus (as I pointed out to you in my first
Report in January, 1856, would be the case), in Blackheath and Lewisham (gravel and
sand) the causes of complaint are principally from leakage and soakage of sewage;
whereas, in Sydenham and Penge (clay), the causes of complaint arise from the inability
of the soil to receive liquid, and the consequent offensive overflow of sewage upon the
surface and into ditches.
Blackheath.—The cottages in Phoenix Vale require improved drainage, as well as a
supply of water. The pump which supplies all these cottages is out of repair, and
requires immediate attention.
The offensive open privies in Pound's Mews remain the same as when reported in 1856.
At Mr. Matthews's, grocer, and the adjoining house, the contents of the cesspool ooze
into the well and contaminate the water, which is unfit for drinking; a sewer is
required here.
Lewisham (Sandwell Place).—The porous strata are percolated by the contents of
cesspools. Mr. Stott, the Union Medical Officer, informs me that his family have been
suffering from fever, and that he shall, at great expense, be obliged to remove unless