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

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Rotherhithe 1871

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Rotherhithe]

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The table below will show the mortality arising from some of the most important epidemic diseases during the last six years.

Desease.186718681869187018711872Deaths total.
Fever1012151391271
Small-pox18635233186
Scarlatina14410124215178
Measles41219791263
Whooping-Cough211229221513112
Diarrhœa182029252222136
Diptheria...11...237
Varicella...............11
Asiatic Cholera21•«•.........21
106671069610199675

Diseases of the epidemic class caused ninety-nine deaths, diseases of the air
passages one hundred and fifty-nine, and other diseases including those of the nervous
and circulating system, inflammatory complaints, besides those already mentioned, tindiseases
of children, and forty-six Inquests, contributed three hundred and six-teen
deaths.
A larger amount of sanitary work has been done during the year than heretofore
in the same space of time, two hundred ninty-two notices were served to abate
nuisances; resistance was offered in some cases, and summonses were issued to
enforce the orders of the Vestry, which were attended with a successful result in
every case.
The process against Mr. Peter Brown, for causing a nuisance by unloading decomposed
animal matter in the public street in Rotherhithe, and depositing it in
a barge along side the Wharf in large quantities, occasioned much trouble by requiring
several attendances at the Greenwich Police Court, and a visit of the Magistrate to
Rotherhithe, in order to inspect the premises himself. The year did not pass away
without complaints by the inhabitants of an insufficient quantity of water supplied by
the Southwark and Vauxhall Water Company, this was experienced in the summer
months, but not so severely as on some former occasions.
There were no complaints of the quantity or quality of the water from the part
of the Parish supplied by the Kent Water Company.
On inspecting the Cow-houses they were found in a fair condition, and it was
satisfactory to notice that the license had been obtained for its legitimate purpose inasmuch
as many stalls which had long been vacant, were now filled with good cattle.
The Slaughter-houses have not increased in number, and no complaints could be
made of their condition when they were inspected at the usual periods, and in September
with reference to the renewal of the licenses.
Very few of the Bakehouses in this Parish are underground, some are completelv
detached from the houses, and others are connected with the premises by a passage
some feet in length; at the time of inspection they were found tolerably well
ventilated, and kept in fair condition.
The Dusting aud Scavengers work have been done as well as on former occasions.
My thanks are due to you and my colleagues, for the assistance rendered to me
in the performance of my duties.
Yours respectfully,
SAMUEL TILLEY.
October, 1872.