London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Lewisham 1862
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]
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14
20th. June. Dysentery, Palace Square, Penge.
24th ,, Gastric fever, Penge.
Seven deaths have taken place from consumption; two deaths from inflammation of
the lungs.
Fourteen deaths have been registered among children under two years of ago, and 12
in those above 60 years.
Diarrhoea is slightly prevalent in the district, and a few sporadic cases of measles have
occurred, but this disease is not prevalent.
The yard used by a butcher and poulterer at Blackheath, and adjoining the premises
of Mr. Wray, stationer, have recently been in an offensive state, from accumulation of
decomposing animal and vegetable matter; and although this has been removed in the
course of tho last two or three days, it is importont to prevent its recurrence, as it is
prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants of the adjoining premises. Such refuse
should be daily removed.
Some plan requires to be thought of for the drainage and water supply of Orchard
Place, Perry Yale, which is one of the most unhealthy portions of the district.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| Week :nding | Weight of air. Barometer corrected. Mean inches. | Temperature of Air. Thermometer. | Prevailing winds. | Rainy days. | Amount of rain in inches. | Amount of Ozone. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest. | Lowest. | Mean of daily readings. | ||||||
| Mar 29 | 29.284 | 6306 | 3409 | 4709 | Variable | 5 | 0.84 | 2.6 |
| April 5 | 29.606 | 63.7 | 41.0 | 48.6 | S.W | 3 | 0.39 | 2.6 |
| 12 | 29.964 | 56.5 | 30.4 | 43.8 | N.E. | 5 | 1.83 | 1. 6 |
| 19 | 29.861 | 58.6 | 26.7 | 43.5 | N.E.&S.W. | 3 | 0.05 | 0.05 |
MAY.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 5 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Lewisham | 12 | 8 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sydenham | 26 | 16 | 42 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| Penge | 9 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| North Surrey Dist. School | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Watermen's Asylum | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 52 | 34 | 86 | 23 | 18 | 41 |
Gentlemen,
The mortality registered during the past four weeks is considerably below the
average for the present month, only 20 deaths having taken placc in the district.
Four deaths have taken place from epidemic disease, namely—
Scarlct fever, Wells Road, Sydenham.
Measles, Bell Green, Sydenham.
Diptheria, Carlton Villas, Sydenham.
Fever, Upper Sydenham.
Measles have been very prevalent in the district during the past few weeks.
A case of typhoid fever, depending upon the offensive state of the house, has occurred