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

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Rotherhithe 1869

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]

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for the poor rates assessed in respect of such hereditament, for any term not being less than
one year from the date of such agreement, and to pay the Poor Rates, whether the hereditament
is occupied or not. The Overseers may, subject nevertheless to the control of the
Vestry agree with the owner to receive the rates from him, and to allow him a commission
not exceeding 25 per cent. on the amount thereof."
Sanitary Staff.
The Medical Officer of Health having called attention to the want of permanent help in
his department, in consequence of the increased amount of Sanitary work that had to be performed,
and the Vestry finding that Mr. Joseph John Sanders's services as Assistant Relieving
Officer would no longer be required by the Guardians of St. Olave's Union, and that he
could in consequence, give the whole of his time to the duties of his office as Inspector of
Nuisances and Street Keeper; the Vestry, in consideration of his so doing, increased his
salary from £73 to £115 per annum, commencing from the 25th March, 1870.
APPENDIX No. 1.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH,
From 1st April, 1869, to 31st March, 1870.
The Vestry of the Parish of Rotherhithe, Surrey.
Gentlemen,
The annual statement I now submit to you does not represent the sanitary condition of
the parish so favorably as I have had the pleasure of reporting on some former occasions ; the
continued depression of some branches of trade, and the mysterious operation of agencies
\\ hich occasion disease, have caused a diminution in the number of births, and an increase in
the number of deaths.
It is invariably found that epidemic diseases contribute very largely to the number of
deaths , some of the diseases in this class are fever of the continued type, small pox, scarlatina,
whooping cough, measles, diarrhoea, and cholera.
Fever, diarrhoea, and cholera are common to all periods of life, and may affect the
individual more than once; but small pox, scarlatina, whooping cough, and measles, are
supposed to arise from a specific cause, are common to the young, and usually occur only once
during life; there is, however, this difference in diseases peculiar to all ages, that many
persons escape them altogether, whilst the susceptibility to diseases of the young is so great
that very few escape having them once in the course of life.

The expenditure for the land, and other costs, has been as follows:—

£s.d.
For freehold and leasehold interests68398112
Professional and other charges, and wages5330185
Incidentals722192
Contracts for works, for entrance lodges, gates, enclosure pailings, formation of roads, &c., drainage of roads, and planting2071026
Total to 25th March, 1869£95162113