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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16
Diarrhoea has been less prevalent than usual during the autumnal season, but four
deaths arc registered from this cause.
The drainago of a portion of the Canal Road, Forest Hill, requires to be entered into
the main sewer. At present it runs by the side of the road in an offensive manner.
Fever has been prevalent in parts of the Wells Road, Sydenham, for some time.
In Windsor Terrace, Wells Road, several cases have occurred; and at the last house
nearly the whole family have suffered from it. These houses are drained into a cesspool,
without ventilation to remove the sewer gases.
In Bath Place, Wells Road, cases have also occurred; also cases of scarlet fever.
In Nelson Terrace, Wells Road, the second house is in an offensive state.
The Inspector has personally visited and inspected the several cow-houses and
slaughter-houses in the district, which ho reports to be in good order, with one or two
exceptions.
Mr. Samuel, cow-keeper, Blackheath Hill, occupies a cow-house which is in a most
dirty and dilapidated condition, but which contained no cows upon my visit of inspection.
The slaughter-house at the back of Mr. Walters's, butchcr, in Blackheath village, is
clear, but refuse matter, consisting of a mixture of stablo manure and refuse substances
from butchers', fishmongers', and poulterers' shops occasionally give forth a most
intolerable stench. This accumulation should not be allowed to exist, or should be
daily removed from the locality.
Meteorological tables and tables of mortality are appended as usual.
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.
| Week ending | 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. | ||||||
| May 31 | 29.739 | 71°4 | 42° 1 | 57°6 | Variable. | 3 | 0.16 | 2.3 |
| June 7 | 29.766 | 73.5 | 45.7 | 58.6 | S.W. | 3 | 0.25 | 3.0 |
| 14 | 29540 | 70.0 | 43.4 | 55.3 | w.s.w. | 5 | 0.92 | 4.1 |
| 21 | 29.780 | 69.3 | 45.5 | 54.9 | N.W. | 5 | 0.60 | 0.4 |
JULY.
| DISTRICTS. | BIRTHS. | DEATHS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males. | Females. | Total. | Males. | Females. | Total. | |
| Blackheath | 2 | 6 | 8 | _ | 2 | 2 |
| Lewisham | 12 | 26 | ||||
| Union Workhouse | — | — | — | 2 | ||
| Sydenham | 6 | 6 | 12 | |||
| Penge | 6 | 5 | 2 | |||
| North Surrey School | — | — | — | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 42 | ||||
Gentlemen,
During the five weeks ending upon Saturday, the 25th of October, 90 births and 48
deaths have been registered.
The mortality is the same as that which took place last year, and is not above the
average for a corresponding space of time at this season of the year.
Eleven deaths have taken place from epidemic disease, viz.—In
Lewisham, 20th September. Diarrhoea, Loampit Hill.
„ 23rd „ Ditto Lewis Grove.
„ 25th „ Ditto Hanover Street.
„ 4th October. Ditto Sophia Place.
Sydenham, 22nd September. Scarlet fever, Bath Place, S.
„ 2nd October. Measles, West Kent Park.