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APPENDIX No. I.
Annual Report of the meical Officer of health.
From the 1st April, 1873, to March 31st, 1874.
The Vestry of the Parish of Botlierhithe, Surrey.
Gentlemen,
Since the introduction of more comprehensive sanitary laws, than those which
existed before the the establishment of a local nuisance authority, under the
Metropolis Local Management Act of 1855, there has been a desire evinced to
improve from time to time our sanitary legislation, and year after year expectations
have been entertained that amendments would be made, and the sanitarv laws
consolidated, so as to remove some of the difficulties which beset the efficient working
of the various Acts of Parliament which relate to sanitary matters. This work has
only been partially achieved at present, and the only step of importance in this
direction, 1 have to communicate is contained in the enactments of the Public Health
Bill of 1872, this Act of Parliament gave power to form sanitary country districts,
and appoint medical officers of health, and gave to London its port sanitary medical
officer, it is impossible to overrate the importance of both these additions to our
sanitary code, but we are more particularly concerned with that which relates to the
Port of London.
Before the appointment of Dr. Harry Leach as the medical officer of health for
the Port of London, our security from the introduction of epidemic diseases into this
country, by the crews of foreign vessels entering the River Thames, was confided to
the Officers ot Her Majesty's Customs, who doubtless used the most praiseworthy
efforts to accomplish the duties assigned to them, but the means at their command
were insufficient.
we have therefore to congratulate ourselves on now being provided with a staff
of officers, who will give us every possible security from the importation of epidemic
diseases from abroad, by the source of the Thames.
No district in London is ever free from the presence of epidemic disease of some
kind, and with the exception of lever of the continued type, and Asiatic cholera, the
fatal effects of these diseases are chiefly observed among the young; the susceptibility
ranges from one ten yean of age, and alter that period of life it almost ceases,
the late oi mortality is so much influenced by the extent to which epidemic diseases
prevail, and the character lor mildness or severity, oi the particular epidemic, that it